My Friend

My friend, we come from different families
With one Father –
Families whose rhythm,
And whose music,
Differs as widely
As the way
We open Christmas presents
Or 
Dye our Easter eggs.

My friend, I love you
Magnetically drawn into
That love by a singular
Voice
Raised upon a blood stained hill
In a tiny land of promise –
Challenged 
To see past the doors
Of your family home,
And your treasured melodies,
To look into 
Your heart,
To hear the singular voice
Calling you
As it calls me
To live beneath the eyes
Of Heaven.

My friend, this love calls us
To ignore
The suspicion of too many decades passed
To count
When we peeked through colored windows,
Peering into other family
Celebrations 
Wondering of the brightly colored
Banners –
The sometimes strange and somber
Robes –
To laugh or rudely point
At what we failed
To understand.

My friend, I love you
And your family
Even more than when I began
These simple lines
And ask forgiveness
For hurting words
Hurled
Across the centuries,
For actions demonstrated,
Even yesterday,
That gave you pain
Causing your family
To draw a tighter circle
Around themselves
While crying out from the darkness
“Don’t you see?
We are like you
In so many ways.”

My friend, I ask love
Born after rejection
And pain –
Love to go beyond
Existing as nieces,
Nephews,
Cousins
To embrace the eternal prayer
Of Our Father,
Who longs for us,
Who begs us live
By Heaven’s standards
For our beleaguered families,
Knowing our words may still not agree
But draws us into life
Through Calvary.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Gilmour Avatar
April 10, 2020 at 10:52 PM
Wow Sam, your words have truly moved me, such a well written beautiful poem my friend and sending many congrats on your 1st place win. Keep well, with kindest thoughts Ann xx
Goldsmith Avatar
April 10, 2020 at 12:51 PM
WOW!!! A great write. We have many people in our lives but very few true friends. Have a wonderful day, weekend and Blessed Easter...............
Koplin Avatar
April 9, 2020 at 5:27 PM
Great Job Sam! Nice work here my friend.
Dietrich Avatar
April 9, 2020 at 4:18 PM
I like the unique nature of this one, Sam and how you are including ALL people, not just those who share your own beliefs. Very nice one.
Ibeh Avatar
April 9, 2020 at 5:15 AM
A spectacular offering from you, Sam. Heartiest congratulations on your first place win! Stay safe out there, "my friend". See what I did there?:-)
Watt Avatar
April 9, 2020 at 1:28 AM
"There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, there is one God who is Father of all". Sam, your poem is a touching call to unity and mutual understanding. Humbly expressed, focused on the One who can reconcile all who have faith. Meditating on the blood-stained hill this week where oneness with the Father is made possible. God be with you this week ~ John
Rose  Avatar
April 8, 2020 at 3:18 PM
wow, you take poetry to a place of artistic value and faith. May the good Lord smile upon you today and always, dear Sam.
Kauffman Avatar
April 8, 2020 at 6:13 PM
Vienna, I am deeply honored by your message. As we stand together in this chaos I hope we can find a new place of unity in faith - loving each other! May you always know the touch of God's grace every day. Stay well!
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