I was there, first.
My voice uttered breath
Into creation,
Giving birth to all that exists,
And I saw that it was good.
But dusk came…
Temptation’s tastes tantalized;
The coyote’s howl
Convinced you to
Run away from Me.
But, didn’t you know
That I cried out for you, first?
You wandered and became
Lost.
Running to every life’s shops
Selling their sins
Aiming to satisfy the hole
Inside, one in which I placed
Your call.
What happened to you?
I can barely recognize you.
Groveling after every
Word of affirmation,
But when your friends…
Your family…
Fell,
They failed you too.
But, didn’t you know
That I created you, first?
Popularity isn’t
As attractive when you
Must trade your identity
For a lie.
But, didn’t you know
That I named you, first?
Wounded, the butterfly’s touch
Warms as you see her face;
Feel his embrace…
Caressing identified as love -
Masking mistakes
With a look of heroism -
Masquerading in your lust.
But, didn’t you know
That I wanted you, first?
Anything to dull the mind:
Take a sip of gin,
Pop some pills -
Get high to not feel low-
Convince yourself to take
A little sleep for long…
Escape the pain within.
But, didn’t you know
That I wanted to heal you, first?
Hide the psychotic battle
Ensuing behind closed doors.
Advertise what “goodness” you have,
Deny what imperfections that lie.
Yet, in your cover, you stumble
Carrying burdens even Hercules couldn’t bear.
But, didn’t you know
I made you righteous, first?
Haunted by past shame,
The mirror portrays a stranger
Who admits they wandered far from home.
Strangled and bound, fearful of falling again,
You isolate, believing
I would be pleased
With your absence.
But didn’t you know
That is further from the truth?
My wrists were cut
So that you may be restored.
I bled to death
So that you might live.
I became bruised and broken
So that you may become whole.
I bore the weight of the world’s sin,
So you wouldn’t have to.
I made Myself distant
From Heaven’s holiness
So you could come near.
Do not believe that you could
Somehow pay the penance deserved.
Didn’t you know
I loved you, first?
Though I saw your sin,
Didn’t you know
I died for you, first?
Oh My child,
What has happened to you?
And now, you do not know Me.
But...I am here.
I was here first.
Omniscient, outside of time
I saw your beginning;
The plan I predestined for you,
The path you would falter,
The redemption I would pave for you…
I was here.
I saw your frustrations and confusions.
I wiped your tears and carried you
In my arms. I never forsook your name.
Stop in this moment, and be still.
Will you come to Me?
Worship Me.
I am all you need.
I was here first…
And I will be the last
To still have my hand out
For you.
Because, I wanted you, first.
