Touched by an Angel
Week 42, Day 4
Further reflections on Genesis 32
I don't know whether Maya Angelou had Jacob's story in mind when she wrote this poem, but it wouldn't surprise me if she had. I think she captures well here Jacob's experience of being released from his feelings of fear, failure and regret. In the middle of the darkest night, sometimes anyway, Love arrives and "strikes away the chains of fear from our souls". That can happen when you are touched by an angel.
Touched by an Angel Maya Angelou
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
Prayer: When we are lost in our darkness and chained to our fear, Generous God, we need your touch. Only love can set us free. You are only love. Liberate us into life we pray. Amen.