Setting your face like flint

you turned your face towards Jerusalem,

despite the pain that awaited you,

were you truly aware of all that was to come?

On the way

you taught, you wept, you challenged,

you kept going,

day by day, step by step….

you kept going…

betrayed, beaten,

bruised and bloodied,

you held firm,

flint face bowed beneath a crown of thorns,

still you held firm…

drinking in life’s sorrows

you kept going,

you held firm,

loving,

forgiving,

giving

until your final breath….

+

man of sorrows,

I know I can bring you my sorrows,

my griefs,

my pains and the disturbances of my heart,

and you will not reject me,

but will help me to embrace them,

for it is only in keeping going,

holding firm,

and walking through

this valley

that I will find life anew…

+

this is my hope,

death overcome,

because you kept going,

you held firm,

help me now

to walk with you…