Places 19: Impaled

Note: Impaled reminds me that over forty years ago, I heard a Middle Eastern man tell how, while still young boy, maybe 12 or 13, he saw Jesus hanging on the cross. He said that he was, in vision, actually taken to Golgotha. While he watched Jesus’ crucifixion, the Lord looked at him. He was instantly converted. I never forgot his witness.

I’ve never had any vision, dream or experience quite like his, but even so, Impaled is real, very, very real and true to me.  It’s more about my experience, not his. When I read the last line, my eyes filled with tears because of Jesus’ love.  May we continue to seek Him and more of His faith, hope, joy, peace, and above all, His love.

Impaled: Blood Streaked with Love

impaled—
up there on the cross,
looking down through time,
His eyes intent on seeking mine—

I looked down too, fixed my eyes upon the ground,
afraid to look at Him, too bound to look around.
In awful shivering awful-awe, I stared into the dust, blood stained,
beneath His naked shame and pain.

My pounding heart beat faster
until time stopped for me—
and then all slowly slowed—
I couldn’t, wouldn’t, didn’t move— I’d no desire to go—

Frozen, dazed beneath Him,
nailed up there upon that tree,
strange warmths of strength enveloped me.
Timidly, I ventured; I raised my eyes to see.

His eyes were red that day,
bloodshot and puffy,
bruised and framed by crust,
His face blood-smeared with sweat and dust.

Love met me with a steady gaze.
Afraid, I thought to turn away—transfixed, I stayed.
Love filled my brain,
coursed through my veins.

Just one look was all it took.
When our eyes locked,
Love’s truth broke me,
His ardent love had set me free.

Love ran me through—
at Calvary.
Love ran me down
until I knelt on Holy ground,
weeping in repentance
for my self, my  sin,
breathing in the grace that fell
to heal my wounds, to make me well.
Grace filled the air like rich perfume,
like sunshine on a cloudless day,
Grace covered me, grace reigned
on His battered and swollen,
unrecognizable face—
blood streaked with Love

 

Ginny Emery ©, an earlier shorter version was published in Places, 2011.