Pierced

Sunday, September 11, 2022

(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)

 Pierced

I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the first and worst. To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever.

Pierced

by Clarence Heller

I was seven years old the first time it happened to me,

staring at some busy ants, my eyes lost focus

and out of “nowhere” suddenly,

the awareness,

out of my self,

knowing that this world, this existence,

is an act of discretion.

It did not have to be.

We did not have to be.

I did not have to be.

So out of the suspended awe,

the silent question emerges, “Why?”

and like holding my breath,

it only lasts a long moment.

No point in even trying to cling to

what I had no power to cause or control.

I had no answer to the simple question then.

 

Last night it returned, You returned

with your mind-tingling gift,

this existence did not have to exist.

So why, what is the point?

Being older, I can at least posit an answer,

but what became so very clear at that moment,

what pierced my soul in that moment of awareness

is that the only sensible behavior is kindness.

The only sensible behavior is kindness,

everywhere,

every time.

And there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need.

(Exodus 32, Psalm 51, 1 Timothy 1, 2 Corinthians 5, Luke 15)

(posted at www.davesandel.net)

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