Wednesday, August 2, 2017

i saw her

Dear Nahum,


Just the other day I saw her,
the young doctor who hurt me when
she inspected me in the hospital.
The one who made me cringe and Dad pray,
when she came to give me stitches.

This time I saw her not at the hospital
but at the local drug store,
blonde hair pulled up and sports gear on,
buying too many baby wipes and
trying to contain a busy, noisy child.

I saw her packing her squalling baby
and purchases into her bike trailer and
pushing her bike toward home,
just like any young city mom,
just trying to keep up with life,
just trying to get by.

In the hospital it felt like
her against me,
and I didn't like her.
I complained.

But in the drug store I realized
that she's just a normal person.
She's maybe even my neighbour.

By the bike racks I remembered
that we're all in this together,
just doing our best with our normal.

I saw her.
More clearly this time.


Mom


One of the teachers of the law....asked [Jesus], 
“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this...
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul 
and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 
There is no commandment greater than these.”