Places in the Heart

there are places in the heart

God

of which I do not know

places hidden

from seeking eyes

ah the things that lurk

there

unbidden

only to emerge

and catch me

unawares

I fear O God

that I do not always know myself

until those moments come

when I catch myself

thinking

feeling

doing

something that surprises even more

or worse

until those moments

when

somehow

perhaps through your grace

the veil parts

and I see realities I did not see before

realities, perhaps

I did not want to see before

In those moments Lord

pain floods my soul

for things done

for things not done

I feel like the man

sitting alone

in a chair

under that naked bulb

All the world hovering

in the darkness around me

staring

judging

and in that moment God

I know that I need other places in the heart

Places only You can reveal

places where sacred love

resides

places where hope and compassion dwell

you have promise O God

that such places exist

you have promised inside

this battered body and soul to reside

shine the lamp

of love

oh God

in the darkness

that I may not only see

all of me (not a bad thing, however painful)

be in that seeing

find not only the flaws

but also the beauty

and in that seeing

find

hope