“Usually, affection is reciprocal: I like you, and you like me. So if Jesus likes us, shouldn’t we express our affection for him? Shouldn’t we let him know we enjoy his company, that we like him walking with us through our days?” –Teresa Reynolds, Fruit of the Vine

Query: Do you share with Jesus the joys of your heart?

you begged me to fight

twist my ameliorative powers

to vanquish your enemy

dismember the Other in your midst—

despite my varied attempts to educate through

vague parables, blinding truth, whip-like action,

comparative tactics, occasional mind meld—

you have persisted in praising cookie-cutter peers,

demonizing the Divine dwelling in your diverse neighbors—

so focused on law and blood

you forget what matters

L o v e .

–Joann Renee Boswell, from “The Ultimate Immigrant, part II: Deportation” in Cosmic Pockets