Jessica L. Morris

 
 On July 10, 2020, I posted the poem shown below.  It fell out onto the pages of my journal after a meditation on John, Chapter 8; and it spoke so clearly to me of my need to drop the burden of self-righteousness that I had been carrying in the political conversations I had been having in my own mind (since it's next to impossible to have a political conversation with any other person in today's climate).  This morning, as I sat in quiet prayer and meditation, opening my journal to write, the pages of my journal fell open to this poem, which presented itself like a gong once again. Hence, I am reposting it - for whoever may need it, but mostly for myself.  The burden of self-righteousness is just too heavy to bear. I'm tired, and I'm longing for freedom so that I can clearly see God's grace and mercy in action - in ALL people and ALL things. 

 Ode to John 8:7
  
 The stone I hold
 is so heavy,
 weighing my whole self 
 down
 into a crouch of 
 hate and
 judgment and
 loneliness.
 When I drop its burden
 onto the dirt of the earth,
 my whole self is 
 relieved,
 lightened,
 free.
 Then I can see – 
 so clearly see – 
 God’s grace and mercy in action
 for them
 and 
 for me.