Hiking Thoughts:

Why do You love me? I must ask.
Searching myself for any worth
Or outward beauty that might mask
My naked soul, with all its dearth

Of virtue, Lord, when shadows mock:
“Could He have chosen such a one?”
And doubts come crying in a flock-
Dark wings- see how they block the sun!

I hold my heart with quaking grip
Small trade for all the marks I miss-
And answer with a trembling lip,
‘He loves, because I gave Him this!’

“YOU gave HIM?”- how the mockers roar
With frenzied laughter at the thought.
“He loved you, creature, long before
Such hideous sacrifice you brought!

Why HE bore nails in either hand,
And made HIMSELF an offering
In order merely to demand
You yield to Him the filthy thing!”

‘Why DOES He love me then?’ I say,
‘What can I give Him in return?
I have no gift which might repay
This gift of His I could not earn.

My doubts all nodded, satisfied,
“You see, your claim is very light
What can you give Him, Crucified
Which was not His before by right?”

Oh what indeed? My heart is naught,
My soul is nothing, to that price.
My service, weak, already bought,
My face too much marred to entice

The King’s bright eyes- and yet I come
My Love, I bring You empty hands
I pour out all my zero sum-
A bitter stream of barren sands.

For verdant Life- my stony soul
For radiant Light- my darkened ray
For jewel-crowned, brimming golden bowl-
A shattered vessel built of clay.

I have no hidden wealth to send
I am no diamond in the rough
Yet hark- this answer of my Friend:
‘I want you, darling. That’s enough!’

The caustic doubters slink away
The sun sinks earthward, unobscured
Red shafts light up the ending day
And I go on my way, assured.