The one gauge

The one gauge                                                                             
 
Just love Me, my Lord said.
Perhaps His only request.
 
Love for love’s sake – without hope
of gain, advantage or favor. 
 
There is a dearth in my heart of such love.
And fear growing rank. 
 
The best I might give, Lord, is gratitude
which I have come by honestly –
 
in response to Your kindness. 
Gratitude for the life I’ve led
 
and for the life You led. 
Gratitude for a family and my imperfect love
 
for all their human beauty.
And gratitude especially for You, Lord,
 
being indeed my only source of truth,
however ill at times I receive it,
 
the one gauge in this troubled dreamscape
I trust and cling to, without which
 
I would have long ago become untethered,
alone, overwhelmed and lost.
 
O child of God, not knowing what love is,
how can you judge your lack of it?