Poem March 2, 2020 Issue

Naaman and the child

Nancy Humphrey Case

It started with a child—
the little, compassionate slave girl
telling the leper’s wife of Elisha
giving him hope of healing.^*

So Naaman the Great
came to the prophet’s door
with horses and chariot
commanding.

Told by messenger
to wash in Jordan, a river
he greatly disdained
he turned away in a rage.

But his humble servants
entreated him in love
that broke pride’s hold
and opened him to grace.

He went down, smaller then
dipped himself over and over
let the pride, the ego, slip from him
in holy silence.

And his flesh came clean
like a little child’s
like the child he’d always been
in God’s eyes.

So let the healing Christ
take you down to Jordan
show you your spotless purity
in your Father’s eyes.

—Nancy Humphrey Case

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