Shame And Grace

Shame and Grace by S.T.I.L.

(1)

I’m not worthy to be made by You.

I don’t deserve to have been sculpted

By hands that have never made a mistake.

I’ve never deserved to be clay resting

On The Great Potter’s wheel.

Too many flaws stain my existence

To justify Your unblemished Touch

Much less to be prepared for Your Perfect purpose.

I have missed Your mark

Of infinite perfection,

By an infinite degree

I am unworthy of Your attention

Not one single moment in all Your eternity

Should you waste on me.

I should be

Cast out,

Written out

Of Your will,

Like a treacherous, traitorous child.

I am the returning prodigal

To be disavowed

Not allowed

To gather the smallest scraps from Your table.

(2)

I have obtained the dreaded welcome

Of Hell’s flames.

But …. You….

You offer

An eternal gaze

Into Your Face

Nothing about me: thoughts, actions, and desires

Would procure

A secure

Nook for me in Your companionship.

Yet,….

There You stood

Before a wretch like me

I have earned Hell

But you offered ongoing Peace

(3)

I surrender to Your unexpected call

Bewildered, but willing

Though I cannot wrap this feeble mind

Around your Infinite Grace

Though the enemy, … and my heart

Remind me frequently,

That I shouldn’t even know Your Name

I press forward,

Press into You,

Draw close to You.

As my desperate need of You is made

More clear.

All the more I lean into

The mission

Your love, despite my faults and past sins,

Spurs me

To find kindred Spirits

As depraved as I.

May we remain attuned to our

Need of The Triune

Let us understand the degree to which

We merit eternal separation.

And may we be so fully appreciative of Grace,

That we cannot help but share it.