I Can’t Take the Pain Away
I can’t take the pain away
I don’t have a magic wand
I don’t have a time travel machine
To wish us back to nought
It’s the clugginess
Of this earth bound clay
That grips around the soul
One day, we know not when
You will be made complete and whole
I can’t take the pain away
But this is what I offer
A listening ear
A worn down edge
A speck of wisdom to recover
I think of Paul
Guilt and shame thorn in so deep
Jacob had a wrestling match with God
A limp he had to keep
Job sits and picks his sores
Elijah shouts take my life
Naomi has a bitter heart
For all that she had lost
God hangs up on a cross
Pain rips out his mouth
‘Daddy forgive them’ he says
‘For they know not what they do’
I can’t take the pain away
But perhaps we can gather around a dead man’s cross
Weep together this broken world
Lines that have been crossed
Perhaps in our conversation
We will see a resurrection wind
Sweeping over our broken bits
A new life to begin
I can’t take the pain away
Everyone has a load
Don’t think there is not one person
Without a ball and chain to tow
Maybe in our conversation
Some things will begin to make sense
That the Christ will begin to carry that load
Your pain becoming less intense
I can’t take the pain away
But this is what I offer
A silent friend
A warm, deep hug
Some wisdom to recover
Barry Pearman
Referances
- Paul – 2 Corinthians 12:6-10
- Jacob – Genesis 32:22-32
- Job – Job 2:8
- Elijah – 1 Kings 19:4
- Naomi – Ruth 1:20-21
- Jesus – Luke 23:34
Image: Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
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