PRAY FOR THE LOST

WITH THIS HURRICANE
TUGGING ME THIS WAY AND THAT,
HERE, THERE, EVERY WHERE,
FOLLOWING ME
INTO THE SURROUNDING SMALLER STORMS,
LIKE A LOST PUPPY,
I DO NOT HAVE MUCH QUIET ALONE TIME TO SPARE,
TO REFLECT,
TO SIT AND THINK.
AM I GIVING MORE TIME
TO TRYING
TO FIND MY WAY OUT OF THIS MISTY, DUSTY STORMY
ATMOSPHERE
RATHER THAN TO TAKE THE TIME
TO PRAY FOR THE LOST,
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE IT WORSE THAN ME?
ME, ME, ME...
IS THAT BECOMING MY MANTRA?
JESUS DIDN'T PRAY FOR HIMSELF,
NAILED AND BLEEDING AND TORMENTED,
THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB
ON THAT CROSS,
FORGIVING.
SO WHY SHOULD I IN THIS HURRICANE,
LOOK TOWARDS MYSELF
RATHER THAN
THE O SO MANY TORMENTED AND LOST?
I AM ALREADY A CHILD OF GOD,
I AM ALREADY WASHED IN HIS CLEANSING BLOOD.
I HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN.
I HAVE AN IN.
BUT GOD DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE ANYONE.
SO IF I WANT TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS,
I NEED TO SPEND LESS TIME PRAYING FOR MY OWN NEEDS,
ON MY KNEES,
AGAIN, METAPHORICALLY,
AND PUT THE TORMENTED AND LOST
AHEAD OF MYSELF.
AFTER ALL,
IS NOT THAT WHY WE ARE CALLED?

PSALM 73:2

BUT AS FOR ME, MY FEET HAD ALMOST SLIPPED;

I HAD NEARLY LOST MY FOOTHOLD.