In Between Cracks

In Between Cracks

“And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’” Matthew 25:40

Did you think a love letter would suffice,
a perfumed missive, something chocolate and nice?
Were their eyes the blacked-out windows that grabbed your hand,
or the stench of a single room filled with infants, toddlers,
teens and dogs; a single mom hoping for something more.

When did you start giving in to mythology that made her
as welfare queen? What throne do you think she reigns upon?
What kingdom does she rule? They have left the dirt just inside
the threshold. They have no driveway, no sidewalk; just the
murky ruts from occasionals who stop and stare.

Did you find time for your own mudding? Driving four wheels
over logs and stones; burning gas, smoking the hills with your
tires and chums?

And yet Jesus lives in the shack, Jesus dwells in between cracks
that turn our noses. Jesus goes without a bath, eats soda crackers
instead of cereal, and sleeps between the drips from the mildew
and moss
that captured the past-tense shelter.

You would put restrictions on your help; urine tests and job applications
(and never ask how the homeless buy gas for cars that do not run.)

Stop.

That’s right. Now, listen to the four-year old breathe; just his tiny breath.
His lungs are wet and human. He exhales the sighs of too much life in too
little time. He is Jesus, if you will only

Stop

And listen

To his breath.