The Coat Giver

I have been recharging. My batteries are still low - but I feel the spiritual energy kicking in. It's great. I have been studying the subject of righteousness and judgment. Yeah, it's pretty heavy for my first week. But I like to jump straight to that which will stick to my ribs and not merely tease my palate. As a way to summarize and illustrate in my own words what I have learned, I wrote a poem. It doesn't rhyme. My poems stopped rhyming after high school. But it's my poem - the first one I've written in like 15 years, and I want to share it with you. Here it is...

The Coat Giver

Naked and exposed, I stand before the throne.
I think, "I don't deserve this,
Nothing I do will make my sin go away."
And I'm right.
So undeserving.
My selfish heart, my prideful spirit, the anger and hunger...
I'm so ashamed.
And as I stand before Him,
His eyes pierce through my soul.
He smiles and brings me a coat, tailored just for me.
"Put this on" He says.
"It will keep you warm and safe."

"She doesn't deserve it!" my accuser screams.
I hang my head, defeated.
I agree.
"Look at her, look at what she's done!
She has done nothing to deserve this,
And everything that goes against who You are."
"You're right," my kind Benefactor states, so matter-of-factly.
"But look at what I have done.
My sacrifice carries her to eternal life."

So, tenderly, cautiously, trembling, I put the coat on.
His righteousness covers me and I am so grateful.
I must tell others.
The pride turns to humility.
I hunger to share.
Selfishness disappears and in enters giving.

I choose to wear my coat today.
As I slip it on, I say a prayer,
A prayer of thanksgiving.
And I look forward to today.
How through my actions can I represent the Coat Giver?
He whose name is on the label-
The Designer and Tailor?
How can I model the coat He's given me
Through the runway called life?

I can hardly wait to get started.
Hey, let me tell you about the Coat Giver...