The ninth hour

After Romans 5:6-11

The darkness came

at the ninth hour, when

the day should have been filled

with light. The darkness rolled

across the landscape, the clouds

heaving in agony, rocks cracking,

the wind tearing at men’s souls,

hearts, minds. The darkness came

and tore the curtain, the veil,

in one motion ripping the authority,

shredding, a sound like a scream.

The darkness rolled and thickened

like fog, its initial mystery transformed

into a terror, a wrath poured out

upon a substitution. The darkness poured

through hearts and minds and souls

and spirits, flowing in love,

a terrible, terrifying love.

Photograph by Elti Meschau via Unsplash. Used with permission.

I would die for a good man

After Romans 5:6-11

I would die for a good man

for sure, I think, or so I tell myself,

I guess I would, maybe,

a good person accused unfairly or

plotted against or betrayed or treated

unjustly. I would do that, I think,

surely we would do that.

But to die for an evil man? A murderer.

a thief, a rapist, a child abuser,

a wife beater, a terrorist, or even worse,

someone who votes differently? Would

I die for any of them, any of those people?

I think not.

I think not.

But he did.

Photograph by Ian Espinosa via Unsplash. Used with permission.