Like Poetry

image from outsider-artists.net

The following is a quote about the Fast that I just copied from bahaimosaic.blogspot.com. It is so poetic and speaks to my heart of the healing nature of the Fast. The line breaks are mine.

He chose our hearts
and asked of us
surrender
of the ancient hurts,
the active fears
and failings
with which we wound each other
and mar the splendid unity
we seek in Faith.

Can we find strength
and will
to cancel out
the caustic criticisms,
the long-embroidered slights,
the outraged pride,
the unexplained hostility,
the bitterness
of ingrown loneliness,
the cruel-edged perfection
with which we weigh each other?

These are the heavy weights
which ground our spirits
and our prayers.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 1950

Let me remember, "He chose our hearts..."