Behind Bars

A Christmas Day like no other.  It's been like having an elephant in the room all day.  Where is he?  What is he doing?
And then, moments of enjoyment thank goodness.

Too much food of course, we didn't even manage the Christmas Pudding.  It's still in its packaging!  I hope you have all had a good day.  I hope that you have found moments of peace away from any pain you may have in your life.  I wrote a poem during the sermon this morning.

For Richard and Others – Christmas 2016
 
What do they do?  The fallen.
Christmas 2016.  The Sinners.
Sinners.  Forgotten.  Sorrowful.  Lonely.  Victims?
 
What is he doing?  Lying there, waiting to be loved.
A cell, with bars, a lock, a thin blanket,
And all much deserved and a long time coming.
 
Do they know it’s Christmas?  The Sinners of our Time.
So difficult to define a sin.  Full with pain.
So many little things in our world
Taking on such awful significance.
Control, protection being asserted,
Keeping us safe.
 
But behind bars, looking for God.
Does he know he’s there?
The young man who once was a helpless boy child, does he know?
 
Keep him safe.  Keep them safe.
Give them dignity.  Give him peace.
Break down the bars that exclude from
 
Decency and Life in its fullness.  Those self-
made bars that must be destroyed .
Destroyed for the lost souls,
   
Lying there, waiting to be loved.