Fanning Flames (mixed media) by Polly Caastor

Your Innocence is Your Protection

You’ve done nothing wrong.
You have obeyed a higher tribunal.
The charges are ridiculous, trumped up, and manipulated.
Human nature,
craving personal dominance instead of shared dominion
is jealous and afraid
of spiritual power
and systematically discerned integrity, applied.
 
You were cruelly cast out, into the lion’s den,
so others could have pride of place
but you wisely hang back in the corner
feeling persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
obliquely trusting omnipotence, however waveringly,
while God talks to you:
 
“Not everyone has reached standards as high as Mine,
nor is as ready as you for self-immolation, humbly
putting cooperatively peaceful principle before person.
Often they are competitive gain-seekers,
insecure, unreceptive, rigid and selfish.
Stop carrying their burdens or wanting to mitigate;
they are responsible for their own failings: you and I are not.
 
In the logic of events, truth will overcome error,
so pour in love, mingled with patient long-suffering.
I feel your grief, but please shake the dust off your shoes.
Cease gnashing your teeth over the unwarranted unfairness,
and get off of the endlessly looping rewind;
there is no need to justify yourself, for I have already done it.
Deeply accept that your innocence is your protection.”
 
Then, after an interminable night
of clinging to this message
you are released, safe,
not ruthlessly chewed up and devoured after all.
The four-legged beasts, at least, were proved harmless
some eyes were opened, needed changes made
and you emerge stronger, reassured,
with faithful life and uncontaminated purpose, intact.
 
 
 
Polly Castor
2/3/14
(See the book of Daniel in the Bible, Chapter 6)
 

Abstracted Person Playing (acrylic) by Polly Castor