The Commission
The Christ of our heart’s altar says
Go away from me and come toward me.
Go away from what you have heard of me
Come toward what you know of me.
Discard musty, crumbling containers.
Hold the truth naked in your hands.
Never be afraid; always love.
Beware of words; embrace music.
Don’t speak of me; breathe me, live me.
Whatever I have is yours.
I offer you the shining chalice
In your dark hour. Let your hand
Go out to meet it, and feel
The confusion fall from you
Like a discarded garment.
The goodness in everything comes out
To meet you, wherever you turn.
Nothing evil can bear your presence.
The light that once blinded you
Now clarifies your vision.
The darkness that once swallowed you
Now liberates you.
Go out both softly and boldly
To this world I have given you to love.
Laura Vines is from Birmingham, Alabama but spent 11 years in Alaska, which affected her music, her poetry, and her writings tremendously. She is a teacher, performer, singer-songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist.
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