The theme was forgiveness, i.e., “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:26-34
First a group poem – in a writing session each woman took 2 lines and voila:
Friday, April 6, 2012 – Women’s Room Group Poem – Jennifer Robinson read:
Women Speak
Voices from the Women’s Room, a Group Poem
Forgiveness is such a big word of many colors,
bruise yellow, anger red, wounded blue, white hope.
Most of the time we feel unforgiven.
The world would be a better place if we acknowledge we are forgiven.
“Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” Even their
unforgiveness causes us to be unforgiving.
Forgive us, Father, for we sometimes know what we do.
Though my flesh is torn and our hearts are broken.
Forgiveness comes from love we received
when we were made in God’s own image.
I see the world of peace within my eyes growing together as we do our part.
The days seem long, and the nights seem short.
and
FORGIVENESS by Esther Bradley-DeTally For Good Friday Service April 6, 2012
To everything but anguish the mind will soon adjust…Roger White
After a great wound no feeling comes,
But, a white hot pain settles upon you.
You stand shivering in a fire of agony,
“Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do,”
is a whispered voice, hidden deep within cumulus clouds,
blocked tributaries of feeling, your heart a mere stump.
Enough, enough, enough.
The well-intentioned speak of forgiveness.
Skippingly on the tongue they toss
“Turn the other cheek” which produces
a yellow, curled up feeling within.
You’ve turned the other cheek so much,
you have whiplash, and your chiropractor
is upping his fees.
You are so done
Chumped out by the world
Sick of greed lurch on the planet
Numb to the scalding rhetoric of gossip,
absolute abandonment of your Lord’s teaching
on mercy, on love Thy neighbor,
Dormancy pokes its head up, a tickling feeling
Your nerve endings prickle, and you realize
not wanting to, you are coming to life.
It’s a crucible this world, and you have
gone through the white heat of change
Ignorance and love will not cohabit within
You cast away the purple bruise of resentment
Which led you to the heart of your journey.
Your crucible.
You will no longer resent
You will not forget
Never forget
But, you are a leaf in the wind
Of the Will of your Lord
And you will love again.
It was a good day.
