by Mike Hall

I wandered off, exploring what was in the great beyond,
attracted to the unknown because it was . . . unknown,
testing the boundaries of my world, resisting constraints,
focused only on me, placing my desires above all else,
only to find heartache, despair, misery, resentment . . . 
I was battered and bruised and scarred from my trials,
   my soul longing for
      the comfort of hope,
         the solace of love,
            the tranquility of peace.
I stood on the precipice, looking into the pit –
ready to concede . . . surrendering to the demons below.
But I paused when I heard my name being called,
a familiar voice remembered from long ago.
I turned and saw Jesus walking toward me, smiling.
I could see the joy on His face, the love in His eyes,
His open arms an invitation for me to return home.
I felt healing as I walked into His gentle embrace.
He had left the ninety-nine to search for the one.
I had been lost, but no more . . . 
The Good Shepherd had found me.

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Mike Hall is in his 46th year of teaching and has authored two collections of poetry, Autumn’s Back Porch and Thinking Out Loud. More than thirty of his poems have been published in various magazines, including Pure in Heart Stories, Sparks of Calliope, Discretionary Love, Solid Food Press, and Spirit Fire Review. He and his wife, Cynthia, live in the Dallas, Texas area.