Amazing Grace

Soaring --
unfettered at last,
Startled, even shaken
by New Revelations
not unlike Peter's uncommon
meal, in the hot afternoon sun
that day in Joppa,
a crazy-quilt tablecloth
heaven-borne, three times,
to get his attention,
to shake him to the core,
to announce:
NOW ALL IS NEW.

It's shocking,
this "Galations Freedom".
Unsettling, scandalous even.


The Law is hard to cut loose.
The shackles that brought
order
security
that sure sense
of accomplishment, -- of tasks checked off the list --
chafed and tore,
cut our skin and numbed our hearts
to thoughtless obedience,
or fearful shirking.


What to do with this Freedom?
How to handle the New Rules,
tied round my heart with delicate
tracings,
spiderweb-like --
so easily melted by Temptation's glare.
Tied from my heart to Your's
My Tender Lover,
My Best Friend,
My All-in-All,
My King.

The weight of Sinai crashed down
on Peter's afternoon spread.
KILL AND EAT!, You command.
Yet Lord? How is that which was
unclean
now to be clean?
This dizzyness,
this falling
into
a
weightless
flight,
times almost dreamy,
like smitten lovers muse...

Where is it to lead?
How can it be true?
Why do our hearts burn so within us
at this News
of this great Grace,
this Love
so amazing,
so real,
so true?


Paul Fleming
Madrid, Spain
16 June 2005

--------------
Créditos fotos: Mujeres (Library of Congress) · Flower (Janoi @ Flickr)