no mote or beam

Here’s a poem pointing to everyone’s innate ability to express God’s light and love. The title refers to Jesus’ teaching about focusing on others’ “motes” – that is, judging them for their smaller faults – even as we ignore the much larger “beams,” or flaws, impacting our own ability to see clearly.

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no mote
or beam*
can mock
the shaft
of light
you are

too luminous
for night
to leave some mark

no

you are made
for light
of light
God’s light

Love’s halo rests
on you
through you

no mote
no beam

just rivulets
ripples
rivers

resplendent
dawn

*See Matthew 7:1-5

Originally published in the July 2, 2018, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.

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