Bear One Another's Burdens

I.When I was a childI entered baptismal waterswith one pair of folded handsand rose up, with hostsof linked fingers weaving netsfor catching burdens—for bearing the weightof doubts and doubters.II.I know Shepherdcounts each woolly head,knows bleating cry,loves us even when wonderleads to wanderbeyond ordained fences.Surely every woundedsheep is cradled carriedhome, washed samegentle, wounded hand.Do others lean their soft,musky bodies against lostone's side, warmbreath minglingin night's air?III.Lawyers sit at court, twistingstatutes, wresting loopholes.Can't He who confoundedtheir bladed questions,conjured sheltered alcovefrom dust stars,make space for facetof His love, reflected in us?IV.Zion not placewhere we will whispermurky judgments from closedcircles.Light pierce spirit,soul-motes glitteringlike window.We how we've been carried,how our hands have wiped clean.