Stoned By Truth

Stoned by Truth

A single finger drags through the dirt

One by one, they drop their stones, the ones they felt provoked to pick up, the ones they intended to use to stone a woman to death. En masse, they willingly, righteously selected palm of the hand sized rocks to throw at the defiler. This was not their first justified foray into publicly punishing wrong doers, in fact, they could be counted on at any time, to throw to kill. Today was different though, today the sting of humiliation was shared by the many and not just the one laying prone on the ground, awaiting the anticipated death sentence pelting. Wordlessly at first, a message is delivered. A single finger drags through the sand, readable, understandable, condemnable, the message is cause for pause, a temporary cease fire and reprieve for the damned. The damned. The message is for the damned, the damnable, the not good enough's. Next, words are spoken, piecing the heart. It is the words spoken and heard that have arms dropping, hands opening, stones falling, thud, thud, thud, hitting the earthy ground. What message, what words, who is not good enough and why? Damned you say? WHO are the damned?

Being forgiven

We are, dear reader, we are the damned. When stoned by the truth, is your heart pierced? Do you feel the sting of humiliation and shame? Do you hang your head low wanting none to see while hoping, hoping that somehow what you have done, what you have said, is forgivable, forgiven? Are you guilty, just as guilty as I am and she is and he is and THEY are, guilty as charged? Will you drop the stone in your hand, the one you plan on throwing at another, hoping to maim or kill? What will you do, knowing that you could be the one, lying in the dirt, helplessly awaiting a violent death at the hands of other humans? Judge and jury, who are you to decide who is worthy, who is worthless?

Sweet Jesus, we are despicable in Gods eyes until we begin to see one another, love one another, have compassion and show mercy for one another. God have mercy on us all, let his kindness and love prevail.