Poem July 30, 1979 Issue

Baptism

Barbara Dix Henderson

What was it made you stray?
You knew the way
was strait and narrow—
maybe too hard
to follow every day?

What did you gain?
Pleasure and pain
commingled
until the purifying fire of
suffering
quenched all desire
for anything
but innocence.

No hopeless mortal, you,
inclined to sin,
for Love's eternal majesty
always remains within.
Your consciousness.

Baptized in Spirit,
cleansed,
now you can face yourself—
replace the hurt despair
by acting out the grace
given to you to share
now—here.

Barbara Dix Henderson

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July 30, 1979
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