the undressing

by: carole l. haines

Lord, you touch places that need to be touched

remove coverings that we have put on

Like fig leaves sewn together

we hide behind our veils of see-through clothe

But You come, Lord, and gently remove these dressings

these worthless, filthy, rags

Oh, and how we shutter, how we fidget and try to take them back

and put them on again, so as not to feel so cold, so exposed, so naked.

But You gently come and remove these things again

not leaving us shivering, but covering us in Your own spotless Robes

and the shaking stops, and we are filled with a warmth never known before

Not a warmth from an outside source, like fire or heat from the Sun

No, this fire is now within; warming us, thawing us, from the inside out

Yes, the Veil was torn in two, by Righteousness made flesh

who came down to walk among us, talk among us, be among us

and walk that Road we could not walk

bear that Cross we could not bear

and rise again, the Firstborn among many

and now we rise with You, Lord Jesus

Seated with You in the heavens, while our feet still walk the earth

fully cleansed, fully clothed, fully accepted

in the Beloved

thank You, Jesus, thank You, God