John said to him, “Teacher,
we saw someone casting out demons in your name,
and we tried to stop him,
because he was not following us.”
—Mark. 9.38
I’m not in the same hive as those bigoted disciples—
am I?, with my pious bigotry
against those who are not in my hive?
What will it take for me to embrace
with heaven’s fullness those who are not like me,
who see it differently?
It may take slowing down and listening,
holding my fallibility like a torch,
being more curious than right.
And maybe tending to the person, their story,
what is right and true in them,
even cloaked in all the wrong dressing.
And maybe looking for where grace happens,
in whatever form, even strange ones,
for grace always wears the shabbiest costumes.
And maybe listening for God
who is not pronouncing but calling,
even in the wrong people, calling to me.
Tending to God,
who works even through misguided people,
even me.
—September 25, 2018