FirstBorn

FirstBorn

(“The first-born, as firstborn, already belongs to God.” Leviticus 27:26b)

It wasn’t quite the backdoor
where we snuck into the mansions bright,
but it was nearly the same as burglars
catwalking within the farewell night.
Once we thought we would earn it,
we catered to the high hands,
recited our profession upon center stage
to prove how well we had learned it.

Afraid we were second-class, middle-born,
or diet-free substitutes to the real thing
we disguised our fears with cellophane tears
and kept on climbing the crags past noon
until sunset,
and blackened our faces to skulk into
familiar dwellings, hoping for acceptance
at the dining table, even as unnoticed guests at
next morning’s breakfast.

But You surprised us all!
For those ready for it, it felt like
no surprise at all.
And perhaps that is why
so many others miss it,
so used to living after the fall.

We belong like FirstBorn, such an old way
of viewing things, all things being equal and all.

But God’s Son, the firstborn among many children,
integrated us who once belonged to no one in particular,
harmonized our songs that more than once deferred
to the next man with a banjo.

Before long we hummed dances and spent our late night
securely feeling right at home. Backdoors were used for
going out and in at cookouts, block parties and fireworks
displays sparkling freedom that never needed to check
immigration status.

The adoption was ratified; our lifelong hope to belong,
given full status before which the entire universe longed
to bow.

Days and nights are now the same, comfortable and
ready to find something better than the next warm meal.
A meal indeed, but more to the point,
a family to share a breakfast with,
all complete.