“Truly I tell you,
             today you will be with me in Paradise.”
                         —Luke 23.43

In the claws of sadistic cruelty,
in the depth of terror,
words of comfort.

At the extreme of forsakenness,
under the grossest weight of shame,
an offer of companionship.

In the teeth of consuming agony,
trembling with weakness,
an act of kindness.

In the face of our sin,
our violation even of God,
complete forgiveness.

Resurrection is not later, but today,
heavenly warp and earthly woof,
all eternity present in the moment.

Resurrection is not afterlife,
but the alchemy of grace,
death transformed to life.

In despair’s soil: hope’s seed;
in suffering: love;
even in hell: paradise.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
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