The poem says, Paul:

Tender-handed clutch a nettle and it stings you for your pain.

Grasp it like a man of metal and it soft as silk remains...one of the few poems I remember from primary school.

We tested it out many times as kids and it's true. Crush it in your hands and there's no sting. There will be lots of sting for churches intent on building love and credibility.

I truly would love to see a church emerging beautifully from the ruins, with lessons learnt along the way. I think many of us crave this.