.good news.
“How beautiful are the feet
Of those
That bring
Good news”
But what of these shoes?
And the feet they carry?
Worn and collapsing
From miles
And countries
Of travel
Blistered
Calloused
These shoes decay
Betray
The weary feet within them.
Wear and tear
Threadbare
These shoes
Never meant to support
such a long and unsupported journey.
These feet
They protect
I neglect
Satisfied to look elsewhere
Seeking my own
(national) ‘security'
Good news
For these feet
Should have come long before
This day
In other forms of support.
Where is the good news
For these feet?
Who will they meet
Along each journeyed street
Who may bring them
News
Of comfort
Compassion
Dignity
Laws that protect them
Guides that direct them
To the safe passage
They need.
We are well equipped
Indeed.
Do we have good news?
If the church,
Shouldn’t we?
If God exists,
The divine surely
Walks with these weary,
Defends these orphans,
Instead of detains.
What of our good news?
These feet may speak
More truth
As we ignore their human faces.
The system
Displaces
Their stories
Buried at the border
We comfort ourselves with legal policy
Neglecting our own responsibility
To be bearers
And cultivators
Of good news.
The news I bring
So far
Is simply
‘I’m here to listen
And learn’
But do I care
Enough
To bring them
and their news
Into my home
And share
My security?
Our good news we preach
Does it remain
True
for all, or just
Me and you?
Attend to these feet
And the faces they carry
Let them breathe
Let us not tarry
To provide the good news
We claim
For our selves
What of the
gifts & stories
their feet bear?
Bare
Exposed
Out from under
Tyranny
Desperate to be
Known
Home
And safe.
Perhaps these feet
Know more of the
goodness of news
Than we
Perhaps it is they
Who could teach us
Something
Of what is truly
Worth saving
We cannot see her face
But we may study her feet
‘What do you need
To see
Of me
To know and honor
my dignity,
my
Humanity?
When will
These feet be
worthy
Of our good news?
