Lying at the roadside.
I am lying on the ground, bruised and beaten,
I have no energy, I can’t remember where it was that I was going.
I was on the path, and suddenly it all changed,
In just a few blurry moments, everything was taken from me,
And I was wounded, lost, the world became upside down.
I didn’t see their faces,
I just felt what they had done,
And I was in shock, too numb to move, or even to cry out.
I felt so very helpless and sore.
It was hot, and the sun was beating down,
And I heard a noise, and thought some-one is coming to help me,
But then although I heard footsteps,
Somehow they never came.
And I felt worse, for not only was I helpless,
But I wasn’t even worth anyone’s notice.
And then later, it happened again,
Some-one seemed to be coming,
But their pace never faltered,
Did they not see me?
And then, much much later,
I heard footsteps again,
But by this time I didn’t even hope,
I was too weak, I felt beyond help.
To my astonishment, this person came over,
He had compassion on me,
Although he did not know me,
He saw me.
He gave me something to drink,
With the most fragrant ointment,
He gently bound up my wounds,
And lifted me onto his donkey.
I tried to say sorry, sorry to put you out,
I know this is not fair on you,
But he just smiled, and supported me, and kept me upright
Along that bumpy track.
Every part of me ached,
But it was ok, because I was seen,
I was cared for,
And I knew that all would be well. ( inspired by Luke 10: 23-37)
Grace for the ashamed.
How I got here, I am not so sure.
It all happened so quickly,
He seemed so charming, so beguiling,
And I was captured by his charms.
I knew it was wrong, and so when the men broke in,
Screaming and pulling us apart,
I knew why this was happening,
And I felt humiliated, degraded.
I never saw him again,
As I was led outside,
And there was a crowd of people
Calling for me to be stoned to death for what I had done.
They raised their hands,
I was terrified, I couldn’t move,
I just thought this is what I deserved.
There was a young Rabbi there
I had not seen him before,
He seemed to be writing in the sand.
He asked the one who was not guilty
To throw the first stone,
And I was prepared to die,
What more could I expect.
But one by one, they lowered their arms
And slunk away,
Till only the Rabbi was left.
I waited, my spirit was shrinking,
Waiting for judgement
But he said “ daughter, go and sin no more.”
Tears came to my eyes,
He knew I was a sinner,
Yet he called me “ Daughter”
He spoke to me with grace
And I was given a second chance.
( inspired by John 8: 1-11)
