Shelter

I know what it means to fail in plain sight.

I know what it’s like to be wrong in very public ways.

I know the speed of falling like lightning.

I know how it feels to be unembraced.

I know why the opaque silence of disappointment

pulls the eyes of good people away from your face.

I know about unexpected hands of welcome,

and strangers who love you back from shame.

I know the reverse-gravity of being set free,

released from hiding and heavy expectations.

I know where the long scars of resurrection 

and healing are carved into walls of grace.

I know there’s nothing easy about any of this

on either side of things.

I know enough now to pray:

For the regrets we still carry, mercy.

For words we wish we had spoken, mercy.

For hours we’ll never reclaim, mercy.

For life still ahead of us, mercy 

upon mercy upon mercy.

May it cover us in both directions.