God’s love is an open-armed greeting,

but teachings of sin caused me to pull away:

Unworthy.

God stood saddened still, but not stunned,

knowing from the human evil it came:

Control.

God sent an Advocate before I was formed

to be ever-present with me, reminding me:

Love.

God demonstrated to my heart, helping me

to see the wrong in ecclessial espoused self-hate:

Healing.

God extended means of Grace, and I retreated

drowning in family, culture, and church:

Tradition.

God persisted, loving without condition

and inviting me into the Love abundance:

Experience.

God led me to encounter texts and people

with different messages and teachings

coaxing my brain where my heart wasn’t ready:

Reason.

God opened my eyes to read and interpret

in holistic and healing ways:

Scripture.

God encountered my in God’s love through

self-love, neighborly love, and love of enemy –

a least-of-these love:

Calling.

And God’s call was to teach and to love

as a conduit of God’s love in the world:

Disciple.

Amen.