Why are we Far Apart?

Xi nian qui le, wo de peng you! (Happy New Years, my friends!) I love you and am asking consistently for your hearts to live out the words He speaks, with authority, over us daily and that the world might know that He Lives. -Ryan

Why are we Far Apart?
… protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.
‘Why are we far apart?’ I ask.

‘You are the one who left,’ you’d say;

no, no, from such you would refrain,

in kindness wondering on this task:

why are we far apart? Is it

we’ve grown too old to be among

the presence of our Father’s sons?

I snub such satanic hindrance

that says there’s any day we’ll meet

where we can’t share foolish wisdom,

the grass growing through our toes. Some

say we’ve lost the desire, deep

in places where guilty sin stings

the mightiest of men who pray

and stumble through the narrow way,

to pursue the heart of the king.


To this, I offer one brief thought:

to whom else would we go? It’s true,

you are the one who we look to,

the one who is what we have sought

beneath the cracking walls of some

old house in memories and dreams.

You’re first to hear lyrics we sing

among those walls, beckoning us come.

Is it the burden of the helper

standing by, nagging out his life

as she dishes his troubling strife?

No. Let each dear sister know her

life is well-loved among these men

with whom she’s chosen share this space.

May she wear honor on her face

and lend, in turn, the same to them.


Have we viewed mercy so many

times that we know His love enough,

the great love which he had for us

and by grace gave us eyes to see?

Before you give this answer, please

stop and tell me how you have gazed

upon the riches of his grace

immeasurable: how wide and deep?

how long and high? Do get behind

me, Satan! I laugh and ponder,

why are we far apart? Summer

was the last time we sat and shined

mutually in His Glory:

the ripening sun as we jogged on

and watched lightning in a field some

long-remembered day in July.

I see guys everywhere who need

Whoppaheads, and they need to know

they are one with the Father so

that they may be one just as we

are one, brothers living actions

and truth. He made us in His image

to mutually seek his visage,

and showed one body how to love.

Therefore, we’ve wept and seen the cross

(I see it squarely as before),

and bowed, united, on the floor.

We asked for grace (G., grant us grace!):

that’s why we ever came together,

why on separate paths we’ve embarked,

why perhaps one day we’ll unite

and why now we are far apart.

 

-Ryan Bettwy