In the Shade of a Tree

In the Shade of a Tree

Peter T. Heide, 2014

 

In the shade of a tree,
Where others will come,
I sit with my brothers

To beg coin for home.

With the shame of the blind,

By law, marked as sin,

One asks whose the fault is—

“Is his or his kin?”

Then a voice from another

Sighs, “Neither the case.

God’s glory’s in each child

Created in Grace.”

I next heard one spitting.

I braced for the spray,

Got mud on my eyelids;

And then, sent away

To wash in Siloam,

Erased the disgrace.

I washed in those waters

And new life embraced—

A life of new vision,

Creation to see:

Great things they called buildings

And things they called trees.

But then rumors started.

“It’s all been a scam.

If he’s the blind beggar,

His life is a sham.”

But others there stated,

Amid all the din,

“It’s not the blind beggar,

It’s one of his kin.”

I tried to assure them.

“’Though now that I see,

I am the same person.

In Christ, it is me!”

Some came with suspicion.

Oh, how can this be?

The one who was born blind

Is able to see?

I told them of Jesus,

His spit and the mud,

The waters of sending

And vision of good.

They said, “This is nonsense!”

“You sinner!” they cried

“Your teachings are foolish!

Be gone! Go outside!”

In the shade of a tree

Where others will come,

I pray for belonging,

A place to call home;

And then one approaches

With faith to receive

A world of belonging.

O Lord, I believe.

In you there is vision

With new ways to live,

Embracing each other

With gifts that you give.

From the waters, we’re sent;

And so, we now come,

Your vision proclaiming

Of new life and home;

A home where all people

Are welcomed in love,

All sharing the gifts that

We have from above.

No matter our natures

Received at our birth,

We’re sent from the waters

Of death and new birth.