By Christi Ortiz
Teach us not to detest our humanness,
our imperfection,
but allow it to beckon to You the Perfect One,
like a glove made for a Hand, the Hand of God.
Enable us to see our holes as Space for You,
space for Grace, emptiness for your fullness.
Teach us not to run from ourselves
but to run to You,
not to hide our shadow,
but open the door to let the Light in,
the Light of your Mercy and Grace
to take the place of our darkness.
Help us not to run from death,
but embrace it as a door to new Life.
Grant us the Peace not to fight against ourselves,
but instead to Surrender to You.
Grant us the Courage to face ourselves
so that we might see Your Face,
and that this Saving Glance might transform us
into You, for when You appear,
we become like You, for we see You as You are,
just as You see us as we are.
This parousia is ever Present, ever coming.
Our very earthly bodies become the temple of Your Spirit that lives and dwells with in us and thus carves us & builds us to enable more & more
of Your Presence within us,
to transform us into living stones,
living members of the One Body of Christ,
living works of art of the Beloved Creator
who is continually creating and recreating us.

Christi Ortiz is a licensed marriage and family therapist by profession and a poet by passion. She enjoys trying to put to words to that which is wordless and give voice to the dynamic and wild spiritual journey called life. She lives in Spokane with her husband and two children, Emmanuel and Grace. She loves the outdoors and meditating in the early mornings which gives rise to her poetry.