by Bryant Burroughs

           what must have been your words
           to tell the Father your wish
           to come to earth to save
           those thrown upon the waves.

Did he know that your heart
would take you to a disaffected
place, to give hearts a new start?
You, the One Hoped For but unexpected
You, the One Looked For but unwanted,   
You, God on sabbatical,  Creator yet creature.
Many of the disaffected and hopeless responded,
and gained your good mercy and pleasure.

Did he know that you would be
the Hands-On God who touched a leper’s face
in careless indifference to disgrace? 
The God on Bended Knee 
who stooped to a woman cast at his feet?
The Dazzler who wanted no acclaim,    
only to heal and hold and love and claim
us, your very heartbeat.

Did he ask, “Are you sure?”   
And you said “Yes, 
I want to endure
all their pain.
I want to cure 
all their ill.
I want to secure
all their souls.
I want to detour
through death for them.”

            what must have been your words
            to tell the Father your wish
            to come to earth to save
            those thrown upon the waves.

Bryant Burroughs writes stories and poems as reminders of those things he hopes are real and true. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Upstate South Carolina with their three cats.

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