Aromatic Agape

Agape in an ornate flower arrangement. Sunflowers like prayers submit to joy and sorrow. The red-rose pulse of perfume and a mourner’s love. Healing came by death, not as our passionate petitions hoped but nonetheless, perhaps, and by faith I know, godspeed, she went home. Courage, by seconds, minutes, hours, days mixed with tears and laughter, sitting amidst and sifting the lives of those around me - their innermost thoughts like bubbles of boiling water swim to the surface. Reflecting upon each soul’s pondering. My heart is whispering, through the fog, standing in the gap, between life and death, “It’s all about love. Love is all that matters, from dawn to dawn.” We have our arguments, display our imperfections, groan in immaturity. Aromatic agape saturates all such things. The body and blood of one man stretched out, a pinup of epic proportions. Inspiration of the King of kings, the star of Bethlehem, Jesus’ words, “You must be born again.” Many sat on the surface, scratching their heads, never dunked under water - to die and rise again, a new creation, a symbol of allegiance and sonship, a reckoning. 4/12/2021 Contest: Agape Sponsor: Regina McIntosh Required words in bold