I want to know Christ
and the power of his resurrection
and the sharing of his sufferings
by becoming like him in his death.
—Philippians 3. 10
Mary took a pound of costly perfume
made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet,
and wiped them with her hair.
—John 12.3
Mary was not merely anointing
those feet, but becoming one with them,
so soon to be pierced, and her heart as well,
nailed to those feet,
blood of her tears streaming down,
oil of his burial bathing her hair,
buried with him.
You don’t need to go out and suffer;
only find the suffering close by
lay your hands on it, anoint it,
soak into each other.
Unnoticed, Christ passes by,
the aroma of your suffering in her hair.
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net