Eyes Wide Open
A poem of Worship
We walk the streets
with eyes wide open
catching glimpses of color
beggars, souvenirs we want
to make our own
We see the people
say hello, keep our stroll
on our way to where we’re going
we walk intentionally some of the time
but not all of the time, No
sometimes we see a need
and pass it by
Why? You ask
Why? I ask myself
Why am I here?
I’m here for them
for those limping, walking with a crutch
swaying because they’ve had too much
to drink
I see the drunks and pass them by
because they’re passed out or
covered in puke
I don’t stop to lay hands and pray
cast out addiction and see them set free
I’m here for
the children shivering because they
can’t stay warm
no shoes to cover their cold feed
For the mommas who work all day
to make way less then a days worth
there’s not enough food so she lays
her head down to sleep with an empty
stomach
But what am I really doing?
Is there purpose for my presence in this town?
Who am I to walk these streets where they live
They, the ones I’m here for
and not pray for all I see?
The injuries are every where I look —
physically, emotionally
these people hurt
they search for healing
in whatever they know
the easy fix
isn’t a fix but a bandaid
it’s ripped off and they bleed
the darkest blood, a flood
of heartache
They don’t feel loved
or worthy to be
but they want to be loved
so they seek and eat the bad apples
they fall from the tree
time after time
they’re beaten and bruised
can’t another day of abuse
So you send us
to share your love
so they know there is more
There is life every day
full of promise and provision
no more wishing or waiting
because you’re here
But we pass them by
so their ears don’t hear
what you want to say
We want them to know you
so we ask you for more
boldness, courage and even faith
each day we wake
the knowledge to speak their language
and be an encouragement to their lives
of working for nothing
they think they’re nothing
because they have nothing
But they
are the children of God
and there is no greater thing
than to call him Papa, Abba
He loves them
and has chosen us to make
His love known
So we stop in the streets
when we see the least of these
we lend a hand or handshake
and pray for their salvation
He saves their lives
because we opened our eyes
