Ah, the sweet relief 
of the Love of our Lord – 
do you know it?
have you felt it?
has it transformed your soul? 

Ah, the blessing of it – 
the peace
the rest
the sweet, sweet
silence. 

I ask again – 
do you know it?

Does it call you 
to profess your loyalty 
attend weekly services 
give your time, talent, and wealth?

Do you love it back 
so dearly and completely 
that you tell others 
it is your Way 
and the only Truth 
you’ve ever known?   

Ah, the sweet relief 
of the Love of our Lord – 

if you’re still reading, 
I believe your answer 
to all these questions 
is yes – 

 – and so this I’ve come to know 
and know I must 
write on paper
and
share with you –   
the one still reading, 
if your answer is, 
indeed, 
YES:

how recently have you said aloud 
to one who agreed, 
or felt silently in your heart 
near one who did not – 

Oh, how I hate that man!

I ask not for my ears, 
but yours alone – 
for if the word still lives 
on your lips 
or 
deep in the cavernous eternity 
of your heart 
then all that sweet relief – 
the peace 
the rest 
the silence within – 

gone 

– in the blink of the eye 
that jolts as it’s felt.

Yes, the horror of that Truth 
is what’s Real, 
but so is this: 

each time it is felt 
or uttered
or covered for shame 

His sacrifice remains 
His demonstration reigns 

and you – 
I mean, we – 
may return again 
repent again 
spit and kick and sob again 
leaving the humiliation of 
our humanness again 
at His feet – 
for it is only there 
by the redeeming blood of our Lord 
that we know no hate. 
It is only there 
that we know relief. 

*With thanks to 1 John 2:9-11 (NKJV)