Suzanne Strong

2000 years of gnarley growth 

From when your pain 

Fell to  earth in droplets of blood 

When you surrendered to Gods will 

To sacrifice yourself 

For our salvation 

I wanted to lie down in the dirt 

Where you had been 

Be there alone in Your presence 

That I felt as real as breath 

I felt your anguish 

I cried as I walked around this place 

But there were thousands of people there 

Taking selfies where you wept 

Where blood poured from your head 

Where you grappled with what you were about to do 

But you said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” 

What a beautiful gnarley olive tree – 

2000 years old 

That was the place that you sought refuge 

In such moments. 

I loved it and wanted to stay in your presence 

But I had to go.

It’s etched in my memory 

The most profound place on earth. 

Where God touched earth and humanity 

And paid a debt that wasn’t his

For their freedom