Do You Love Me?

Despite his good intentions, promises,
And passion, Peter three times failed his Lord,
And though his doubts were not like Thomas’s,
He fled at costs he thought he could afford.
Back to the boats, the nets, the fish, the sea.
He’d tried another life, sought something more,
And made a wreck of it. Could there still be
A place among the faithful? Then from shore,
A voice familiar called, harkening back
To early days of hope and ignorance.
He asked of the supply and knew the lack,
But then he spoke, and all was providence,
For his is love no shame can e’er efface
That meets great sin with more abundant grace.


Photo by Dave Herring on Unsplash

Reconciliation

In fear, we burn down bridges, build up walls.
We work against the good that you intend.
Yet you account for failures, fights, and falls
And bring good anyway, and you can mend
Our rent relationships and broken hearts,
Redeeming what was ruined by these hands.
We shatter graces, scatter all the parts;
You hold all things together in your plans.
Lord, you give purpose even to our pain.
The love we tear asunder, you renew.
You see the growth to come from all the rain,
And you sustain us till we see it too,
Till chosen exile ends in holy rest
And dispossession’s fin’lly dispossessed.


Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash