Gentle press

Gentle press                                                                                
 
Eternally benevolent – so the Prayer goes –
but, who believes in the benevolence of God?  
 
One shred of evidence –
God wore Your face;
 
placed the Truth into Your hands;
imbued Your form with an unearthly grace;
 
allowed our hearts to settle
under the gentle press of Your thumb.
 
He gave us Your name to repeat –
Compassionate Father . . .
 
Compassionate Father, Compassionate Father . . . .
Perhaps, one day, we’ll believe it.
 
We’ll stretch our necks across the altar,
hold still and let the Master do His work.
 
O child of God, faith is a question of love versus fear.
To Whom will you surrender?
 
                              (from A Jewel in the Dust, 2011)