Ten lepers approached him.
Keeping their distance they called out,
“Jesus, have mercy on us!”
When he saw them, he said to them,
“Go and show yourselves to the priests.”
And as they went, they were made clean.
—Luke 17.12-14
Leprosy meant uncleanness… impurity…
some distance from God… and from others.
If one were cured of leprosy
one had to be pronounced clean by a priest.
Call to mind all your impurities, your flaws,
your failings public and secret,
what distances you from God, from others,
from your true self, what’s disgusting about you.
Show yourself to God. You are made clean,
pure, whole, acceptable, good. You’re fine.
Imagine all shame, guilt and sorrow gone.
Evaporated. You’re perfectly fine.
Humility and gratitude dance hand in hand.
Judgment has no footing. Only wonder.
Tenderness toward others flows naturally.
Once you know everyone’s secret we all look different.
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
October 8, 2019