Manacles, chafed

After Galatians 4:4-7

The manacles, chafed

and chafing, dirtied and

stained his wrists, flakes

of metal coloring his skin

like rings, tightening. 

The manacles, reminding

him of his status, his bounds,

his binding, his place

without future. The manacles,

too, bind his ankles, the metal

tattooing its presence,

a sign that he was a prisoner,

a slave, born without prospect

of redemption.

Someone, a voice, called him

a son, the voice heard first

in his ears before his heart;

he was called son. Manacles

snapped open, the stains

washed off. And then he heard,

first in his ears before his heart,

the voice calling him

with a new name:

heir.

Photograph by Stephen Hickman via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Embraced

After Romans 8:12-23

The child

in its suffering

is embraced

by the spirit,

becoming an heir,

full family rights,

joining in suffering

to reach the prize,

the glory promised,

the glory revealed

at the end.

Photograph by Daiga Ellaby via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Adopted child

After Romans 8:12-23

Abandoned, and left

alone, the crowd moving

on, the child looks and

stares, concern mounting

to desperation, mounting

to fear, until a hand

reaches out, touches

the child’s forehead,

the touch imparting

a spirit of place, of time,

a spirit transferring

ownership of belonging.

The child reaches 

to the hand 

of its new father.

Photograph by Joel Overbeck via Unsplash. Used with permission.

"I was afraid, Dad"

“I was afraid, Dad,” Jason said, “if I said what had happened, then you or no one else would have wanted to adopt me.”

“My son,” Michael said, “while it may have shocked us to know, I don’t think it would have changed our minds.”

“I think I know that now, Dad,” Jason said, “but I was afraid you’d make me leave.” He paused. “Sometimes I feel I don’t deserve you and Mom.”

-      From Dancing Prophet. 

Photograph by Justin Chrn via Unsplash. Used with permission.