Father, I asked for compassion
…… that the complacency, the self content,
might not blind me to the needs of others,
but I didn’t know
it would be like this.
This is tearing my heart
from my chest,
crushing it
in a giant’s fist,
aching my whole being
and for what ……
If it’s like this for the pain of one
My God
how can you bear
us all.
How can you bear the pain
of love ……
and yet you do.
Dare I ask again?
Dare I not,
for in your image
I am made
and so, in spite of self
I will be asking,
and torn and stretched
and crushed,
to know
the pain of compassion
to know the pain of growing
in your image
in your likeness
in your love.