God Saves Us, After All

God saves us, after all
if he does anything at all
By the most peculiar of means
water and oil, wine and bread
words in the dark, silence, a kiss
a Kingdom
Fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters
cynics and saints
murderers and dreamers
God saves us, together

God saves us, after all
if "saves" is what we call it
By no means whatsoever
at the cost of everything
from our delusions of heaven
for the unfamiliar and unknown
This stranger, this street, this corner
clutching a hand-scribbled sign
God saves us, unexpectedly

God saves us, after all
if we are saved at all

By any means necessary

by death, resurrection, rebirth
Plenty and need, height and depth
beauty and ashes, hope and doubt
On servant's knee
at the edge of the basin
cheek turned
God saves us, upside down

God saves us, after all

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Review: "The Character of Virtue: Letters to a Godson" by Stanley Hauerwas

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