playing favorites


in the ninth chapter

my favorite Bible story
when the parent
comes to Jesus
for
the child who needs healing
who is thrown by fits
into fire

such an extreme for healing to
which Jesus
says
believe and the child be renewed
to
which the parents
must reply
I believe
and help my unbelief

the formula presented
yet
before Jesus especially
even to doubt
but must
be honest

and the response from Jesus is
that
the child is healed

not that epileptics must be healed
though sick children
from whatever
reason
should be
and for all we are and all we aren’t
we have to open all our hopes
and fears
before the Lord


versing

my second favorite
is a cluster of
verses
from the Psalms about a third through
the verses about
creating a clean hearts
a heart that
is in me
by God

by God
in fact
to renew
as has been made

create in me a clean heart
O God
and renew a right spirit with me
and
cast me not away from they presence
and take not
thy holy spirit
from
me

again
an honest plea
for healing of the self
I guess
even to be close ‘mid all the snares
outside the circle
working in


c l couch


(for the series, from Mark 9 and Psalm 51)

photo by David Trinks on Unsplash