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A REBUKE TO THE BRIDE:   STILL AGAPE

THIS PRECIOUS BODY, BROKEN FOR ME,

   WHY CAN’T I JUST TAKE THE VICTORY?

THERE MUST BE MORE THAT I HAVE TO DO.

   THE MIRROR SAYS, “THIS CAN’T BE TRUE!”

WILL THIS LOGIC OF MINE EVER DISENGAGE?

   I EVEN FEEL AN INDIGNANT RAGE!

I GET DETERMINED!  I’M GOING TO WIN!

   AND I FIND MYSELF FLAT ON MY BACK AGAIN.

I SAY, “ LORD, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?”

   HE SAYS, “MY CHILD, IT’S YOU.”

“I’VE TOLD YOU SO MANY TIMES WHAT TO DO.”

   “THESE SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT STEPS

WILL WALK YOU TO LIFE, WITH NO REGRETS.”

“YOUR DESIRES ARE BEFORE ME;

   THEY’VE NOW BECOME MINE.”

“I’VE ALREADY SHOWN YOU,

   THIS TREASURE, YOU’LL FIND.”

THEN, I SAY, “BUT, LORD,

   IT’S TAKING SO LONG.”

“THE CLOCK IS STILL TICKING;

   SOMETHING’S TERRIBLY WRONG!”

YOUR TONE SEEMED TO CHANGE

   AS I HEARD YOU SAY,

“IT’S TIME TO GROW UP!”

   “I’VE DECREED THIS WAY!”

“I, TOO, AM  STILL TICKING.”

   “NOW, COME WITH ME!”

“WHEN YOU’VE BEEN YOUR OWN LORD,

   IT’S BROUGHT TRAGEDY!”

“IF YOU KEEP INSISTING

   ON RUNNING THE SHOW,

I’LL LET YOU, EVEN THOUGH

   I DON’T WANT YOU TO GO!”

“YOUR COMPLAINTS ARE SAYING,

   ‘I MUST SEE ALL THE STEPS.’

WELL, YOU TAKE ONE,

   THEN I’LL SHOW YOU THE NEXT!”

“YOU’RE NOT AT MY FEET

   INQUIRING OF ME.”

“YOU’RE SAYING, IN FACT,

   ‘I DEMAND TO SEE!’

“YOU’RE KINDLING MY ANGER!”

   “THIS ISN’T WISE.”

“MY LOVE WON’T ALLOW YOU

   TO WALK IN THESE LIES!”

“LISTEN TO ME!”

   “IT TAKES YOUR TRUST,”

“DON’T LET OUR DESIRES

   TURN INTO LUST,

BY YOU RUNNING YOUR LIFE;

   THIS IS HOW THIS CAN BE.”

“COME ON!” “I WANT YOU

   WALKING WITH ME!”

THEN, I SAY, “LORD, THANK-YOU

   FOR YOUR REBUKE;

FOR A LOVE THAT ALWAYS

   TELLS ME THE TRUTH;

FOR NOT LETTING ME GO;

   FOR YOUR LOVING INSTRUCTION;

FOR KEEPING ME FROM

   MY OWN DESTRUCTION.”

“WHAT YOU HAVE DECREED

   WOULD HAVE TO BE

BECAUSE YOU SWORE BY YOURSELF

   AND NOT BY ME.”

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa