I See You

I see you…

I, see, you.

There.

Thrown in the dirt, and grime of life, torn and twisted…

Lies and deceit you wear, as robes, of disgust and shame…

Men want to stone you, snuff out your life.

But, I, see, you.

Bending to the dust I right the wrong, the pain, the strife…

No one else can see, but me.

Love has come to you today to wash the dirt and filth away…

Only your heart can taste and know, the forgiveness, I now bestow

Upon your wilted, grieving soul…

Life now appears…

Men of lust and doubt and fear

Listen now, and hear, as My Spirit speaks into your heart…

You, who covet and envy and snare, innocent ones living in despair

Of your laws, your dogma’s. Religious, pious, flaunting spineless, hypocrites, laying snares for the helpless ones…hear with your heart what I do write upon the dirt this day…

You, who are without sin…let him cast his stone first.

Can you? Do you not have unseen sin? Hidden in darkness you bring…

Staring at your faces I proclaim…Go ahead cast your sinless stones…

One by one…they drop their rocks, heads hanging low they walk…away…

Woman, I see you.

Where are the ones who accuse you?

They are gone my Lord…

I do not condemn you, but listen to your heart…the pounding you feel within your chest…

Is telling you right now, Go and sin, no more!

Rising from the dirt and dust the woman’s heart about to burst

With joy she’s never known…

Reborn, restored, transformed, she walks forever with the Lord!

–Marla Shaw O’Neill June 2, 2017

John 8:5-12 The Message (MSG)

The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. 

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. 

Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” 

No one, Master.” 

“Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”