the myth of merit

“You often say; I would give, but only to the deserving, The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.  Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and nights is worthy of all else from you. And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream. See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.  For in truth it is life that gives unto life-while you, who deem yourself a giver, is but a witness.”                            Khalil Gibran, The Prophet

 “Easter is never deserved.”

 Jan Karon, Home to Holly Springs

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It is an endless dance

when early a’morn

the hay finds its way to those

three lovely ladies

who hoofs prancing

and breath exploding in the cold

air

dance endlessly around the piles

before

finally

settling in for the snuffling and the chomping

they know who is oldest and most venerable

and there is respect there

but no exclusion

all find a place

and one some fine days

as two piles lay somewhat neglect

the three

noses together

munch happily together

I do not think a single one

Sadie, Tiger Lilly or Sadie

Have a since though about merit

I deserved this

You don’t

I gotten ridden yesterday

You didn’t

Slacker

Moocher

No

There is enough

They share

Any illusion that there is not is enough to share

Is merely an illusion

What is it about us humans

Who can watch the homeless and hungry

Dance around our “enough”

And say “I earned this, its mine, you can’t have any?”

What is it about us humans

That we are so worried about whether someone deserves

Food, or housing, or health, or love?

How can we pour so much passion into a zygote

And have disdain for the mother

And ignore the breathing living child

And the struggling youth in transition

And the lonely and ill adult?

We are so weird!

How can we not see each person

As a miracle

How can we not see each person as a child of God

How can we not see each person as one who carries divine DNA?

How can we not see

Jesus in the face of each person we meet?

Even that face we most disdain

(that is where it gets really hard… to see the face of Jesus

 in certain pink rimmed eyes)

It is never a matter of whether a person “deserves” grace

Or love, or food, or housing

Remember!

“Easter is not deserved”

It is a matter of remember what we have been given

And giving to others (yes, there are limits, and boundaries can be good)

Until they remember

That they are worthy of the gift