Not what form you’re in,
You may have long left school,
It is of what form are you,
Come on, you’re no fool.
Much talk is bandied around
About one form or another
And I am not sure if they know
But it is cause to bother.
It would be plain sailing
If we can get people to conform,
In church that seems to work,
You could say it’s the norm.
In certain workplaces too
When the boss is in control,
Workers are mostly compliant
And do what they are told.
Women are preferred to men,
They play this role well,
Men are reluctant and resistant
And do not easily gel.
That is one type of form
But let me hasten to the next,
Next on my short list is deform
No need to get vex.
None of us is perfect
But some look a little strange,
We must not frown upon them
And say they are deranged.
They are differently able
And please do not say handicapped,
They may do things differently
So assist where they lack.
They are not responsible
Given the challenge they face
And sometimes we need to just stop
And put ourselves in their place.
What if it were you, I mean,
How would you have felt
If people use such ghastly terms
And insults at you pelt?
Next, we come to inform:
The second most important one,
Just two more after this
And I assure you I am gone.
If we inculcate this one
Better decisions we will make,
We won’t go around fooling people
And then be called a fake.
It’s better to be informed-
A word to the pseudo wise,
You’ll help yourself and others;
No need to disguise.
If you live in Barbados
This form is on many a lip,
Reform of this and reform of that
I hope it’s not a trick.
It is education reform
And public service reform,
Everything is to be reformed-
Even Constitution reform.
We’ve bitten off quite a bit
In an effort to become first class,
But all this reform at once
Is a monumental task.
Like wishing and hoping
It will all fall into line,
If reform is the magician’s word,
It will happen in our mind.
On that I’ll say no more,
Let him who thinks, think,
I will hurry on to the next form
And be through in a wink.
Now for the most important:
The fifth and final one,
I have a feeling you’ve guessed it,
It is the word transform.
Transform is inside out
Unlike inform and reform,
Conform is a state of the mind
That fits in with a norm.
Transform is a biblical term
For the Holy Spirit’s work
Accomplished in every believer
To function in God’s church.
So, there you have the five,
Of what form are you?
Meditate on the following scripture
And let it shape your view.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world:
But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
That ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
And perfect, will of God.
Stewart Russell © October 27, 2023
