Ambushed—
Betrayed with a kiss

Disrespected—
Despised and rejected

Humiliated—
Mocked, spit upon and naked

Unsafe—
Led like a lamb to slaughter

Broken—
Crushed for our iniquities

Like Jesus
and so not like Jesus, the
Sin-bearer
Shame-wearer
Grace-sharer

A life offered up
for those who wept
and the ones
who cause the weeping.

A life laid down
for the broken
and the ones
who do the breaking.

My life
both up and down,
twisted together.
Hurting
and wanting to hurt.
Forgiven
and unforgiving.
But wanting
to be
like Jesus.

—Carolyn M. Carney