The word of the Lord came to me

 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,  before you were born I set you apart;  I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 1: 4-8

For our Closing Worship, we reflected on the above text and I wrote a poem. It has been a long time since a poem came out of my heart fully formed.

The word of the Lord came to me

And the word was love. 

Love, in the midst of the city and 

love, in the countrysides.

Love within the walls of the church 

and love in the open streets.

Love, when war pits neighbor and neighbor.

Love, when hopelessness overwhelms you.

Love, when differences divide.

Love, when desperate cries call out.

Love, at the end and in the beginning. 

The word of the Lord came to me 

and the word was love. 

          “To me, Lord? To me?”

To you.

You, the broken.

You, the weak.

You, whose background is scandalous.

You, whose many mistakes color your world.

You, young and old.

You, tired and weary.

You. 

The word of the Lord came to me 

and the word was love. 

A single word. 

A daunting challenge.

Love when the world sees love as foolishness.

Love though it seems naive.

Love. Just love. 

The word of the Lord came to me 

and the word was love.