A Gentle Protest

I was raised in the shadow of the

empty cross, the Protestant Promise,

the only ornament on our white-

washed walls. I was taught the why.

Jesus wriggled off those rusty hooks

then hid out in the cave three days

until he was good and ready to resurrect.

His followers are “after” the cross.

Forgive me, but now I must protest for

after half a lifetime of rushing ahead,

of Paul Harveying the gospel, my

eyes are drawn to crosses that still hold

the man down. Give me crucifixes where

the wounded head and side are on full

display still bleeding for you and for me.

This is not to say Rome is the answer.

This is to say joy will come some morning,

but for today it is still night and I need

the Savior who knows his way in the dark.

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11 Comments

  1. Judy on October 6, 2019 at 9:25 am

    Amen and amen.

  2. Tlizabeth Templeton on October 6, 2019 at 9:43 am

    Thank you. A much-needed message.

  3. Sherrey Meyer on October 6, 2019 at 11:48 am

    Thanks for a beautiful Sunday morning poem to which my husband and I have said “Amen!”

  4. Jamie on October 6, 2019 at 2:13 pm

    Gorgeous, John. Simply gorgeous.

  5. Megan Willome on October 6, 2019 at 3:19 pm

    Preach!

  6. Michele Morin on October 6, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    We evangelicals do have a habit of skipping over the cross and rushing straight to Sunday.

  7. Elizabeth A Carlson on October 6, 2019 at 8:15 pm

    Thank you putting these words together. They are like water poured on parched ground.

  8. Linda Hoye on October 6, 2019 at 9:33 pm

    Yes and amen.

  9. Paula Champion Jones on October 7, 2019 at 7:52 am

    Weeping. Thank you.

  10. Margaret on October 7, 2019 at 9:39 am

    Yes. I too, need a savior who knows his way in the dark… And to be reminded of this truth. Today. Thank you. Finding breath again after reading the news this morning…

  11. Diana Trautwein on October 7, 2019 at 6:41 pm

    New all-time fave. THANK YOU.

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