Poem April 28, 2008 Issue

AFTER THE CALL

(For a Christian Science practitioner)

Lois Rae Carlson

When you put down the phone,
don't move.
You're in the middle of a blessing beyond measure,
not just for the patient, but for you
who were willing to answer the call,
who shared your five loaves and two fishes
so the Christ could multiply them to meet the need.
Your privilege is seeing something beyond the tears,
the frustration, and pain.
You may have already spoken it, but
in this pause you're being invited to believe
what you said about the Christ, about God
loving beyond the fear.

Stay here.
Listening, worshipping, canceling the lie
even as it tries to impress you as well.
You can't walk away and pretend you didn't hear.
You're being transformed into His image so you
can walk faithfully with this gift.
Thank Him for what He has already done for the caller.
Thank Him for the privilege of really knowing this child as His.
Thank Him for the presence of the Christ to penetrate the dream,
and wake both your friend and you
to the reality of standing together, before Him.

—Lois Rae Carlson

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