The Shunammite Son

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"she went upstairs, laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door on him and went out"

-----------/The Shunammite Son: Reflections on Life, Death and Beyond/


Growing up, everyone smiled and made commendations
on how tall I’d gotten marveling
but I used to say each birthday brings me closer to death
and that aging just means Im dying
that I was fortunate for being chosen to live
when the odds favored the contrary
(but that’s sufficient enough)
life is like a wheat field – you stand idly by as others reap
all around you, while coming to terms with who you are
you place your hand on your sickle
attempting to settle in your prescribed role and harvest
the destiny you concocted for yourself yet cant quite fathom
until you realize (clumsily) you are the wheat someone else has harvested
and you are left to say your own benediction
as servants carry your ailing body off bellowing "my head, my head"
lifeless
they lay you on a bed that no anointed staff can alter
for your comfort
and your spirit is writhing migraines pleading for serenity
pleading for a second chance to make things right
permit you to choose another path – maybe for yourself
next time (and not your dad)
because the company around you is vexed
disillusioned by visions of grandeur for you now dead
until, miraculously, hope comes along
placing its mouth upon your mouth, and its eyes upon your eyes,
and hands upon your hands
waiting for you to sneeze seven times and open your eyes


(again)


--------2 Kings 4:18-37------------------------
And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well: And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.