Our Town Was Always Hopping!
The People Were Wild And Wooly
And
You Were Guaranteed An Experience
Sure To Take A Few Years Off Your Life
On Any Given Weekend!
At Least It Had Been So
Until Master Jesus Opened Grace 'N Mercy!
Grace' N Mercy Was A Different Kind Of Establishment!
It Didn't Sell Anything!
It Had No Cash Registers
No Security Guards
And
No Officious Sales Associates!
Their Slogan, Written In A Strangely Comforting 3-D Bright Red, Was
"New Lives For Old!"
Truth Be Told
I Had Been Getting Tired, Really Tired, Of My Old Life
So I Said To Myself:
"What The Hay!?!"
And
Boldly Walked In Like I Owned The Place!
I Was Met By The Master Himself
And
He Explained What I Would Need To Do
To Get A New Life From Him!
He Sounded Sincere
Had A Lovely Voice Which Was Truly Comforting
And
His Offer Appeared To Be Legit!
The Only Thing That I Balked At
Was When He Said That I First Had To Get My Eyes Healed
Get My Ears Unstopped
And
My Tongue Cleansed With Some Hot Coal
From His Altar Of Sacrifice (Really!?!)
And Then
Empty Everything From My Pockets
My Purse
And
My Tote Bag Before Stripping Myself Bare ... In His Presence!
I Looked At His Cross-eyed And Said:
"Pull The Other Finger!"
Master Jesus Just Continued Looking At Me With Amazing Love
And
Great Compassion In His Beautiful Eyes
Before Gently Touching My Right Hand With His Own!
I Saw That His Hand Was Severely Marred!
I Looked Up Into His Face
And
It Was Then That I Saw The Terrible Scars Across His Forehead!
But, But ...!!!
It Couldn't Possibly Be Him!
I Shook My Head To Clear My Mind!
Something Happened!
Joy Flooded My Very Being
And
I Committed To Making That Transaction!
Beloved,
I Said All Of That To Tell You That
My Old Crazy Self
And
My Wild And Wooly Town Started Slowly Changing!
It Seemed That We All, Willing
Had Gotten New Leases On Life
As In We Had Received New Life
Just For Trusting The Word Of The Blessed Life-Giver!
Truth Must Be Told:
It Had Truly Been A Great Day
When Master Jesus Had Opened His Door
- Became The Door -
In Our Town!
What A Wonderful Change Is Being Wrought!
Oh, The Peace That Passes Human Understanding!