Jew, Christian, Muslim

Photo by ~Panache

Three great faiths

All share the God of Abraham.

Two share the blood of Abraham.

All share God's promise to Abraham.

Why do the members of each faith not love

Those of the others?

Some do.

Some understand that they share a common God.

So many do not.

Each wishes to be exclusive.

Each wishes to be the only path

To redemption.

Does God only love us

If born in the proper place

In the proper faith?

Would God so easily condemn his creation?

I think not.

God is love.

Love that wants only what is best for us.

Love that wants us close.

As Augustine said:

"He loves each one of us

As if there was only one of us."

Three faiths.

One God.

One God for all humanity,

Not Just for those of the Three,

Not bound by humanity's limits.
Polytheist.

Monotheist.

Atheist.

All are Hers.

My Grandmother

My grandmother's birthday is today.

She would have been 121.

An Impossibility.

She lived a long, fruitful life,

And died at 86,

She taught me so much

And so little.

She had been on her own at 13.

She saw no reason I could not be, too.

So she kept our home,

Fixed our meals,

But let me choose my path.

God has no grandchildren.

The relationship is born anew

For each person.

Far from faith I walked

Through the halls of knowledge.

My grandmother never called me back.

She, both Presbyterian and Christian Scientist,

Trusted God.

She was dead when I stepped once more

Into a Christian church.

Knowledge of other faiths only guided

My steps back to Christ.

Did she know when I knelt to be ordained a deacon?

I am sure she did.

Summer Prayer

Our Protector, who surrounds us,

Great and holy are you.

May your grace abound.

Let us follow your example

As we live and as we die.

Give us living water

To slack our thirst.

Shield us from the burning sun

As we guide others to the healing shade.

Keep us from seeking treasure in the desert,

But guide our steps into the arbor of your love

Where we are hidden from evil's glare.

Your word can bring the cool of dawn

And once more create an Eden on earth.