Without Subtraction

Like any true mirror, the gaze of God receives us exactly as we are, without judgment or distortion, subtraction or addition.

                                                Richard Rohr

____________________________

I stagger to the mirror

Bleary eyed

Fuzzy

And gaze at the person who looks back at me

I see my age reflected

the fact that gravity is winning

I see thickness where once I was trim

and thinness where muscles once lived

it see gray and thinning hair

and the face of one who does not

(my apologies to my doctor)

take care of himself very well

I see my weakness and failures

I see the one who talks too much

and listens too little

the one who isolates

and hides behind busy-ness

I see one who has squandered amazing gifts

and has (probably) not been even close to

what the sacred intended him to be

The Sacred sees all that too

And

And

And

a beloved son

a person who really cares (even if he doesn’t show it well)

a person with pain

and joy

a person who has made a difference in people’s lives (for the better)

a person of creativity

and joy

and hope

may I learn

to see myself

with the eyes of the sacred

without subtraction