Really Beautiful

"Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." Acts 3:1-10

* dedicated to Linkin Park "Leave Out All The Rest"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6KKlRzvmZ0


http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=711329238525

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=711325091835

------------------/Really Beautiful: The Thoughts of The Crippled Man At The Beautiful Gate Healed By Peter/



On the fringes, unprivileged
carried to the temple, but dropped at its doors
a pariah
hungry but not fed, left to beg
marginalized....resigned to mediocrity
dreams of prestige recanted since birth –
since when I tried to walk but was incapable
Pharisees postulate in the synagogues but their words
fall on a hardened conscience, my jilted soul broken
leaning my back on the Beautiful Gate
with an ugly trajectory auguring a life forsaken
give me your coins
at night I'll wash them with bitter tears
then throw them
in the Lake of Gennesaret

Longing, desperate for love
weary from life’s journey of adversity
desperate for attention
I feel like I am an accoutrement of the Temple
an artifact, a cautionary anecdote for others
(a morbid statue glanced at but never engaged)
to abstain from sin
when it rains, the doors close
dogs scurry in...I am left outside
drenched
(when the gates close I am thrown in the roads)
forgotten, ears pierced by peals of thunder
lightning strikes singe my feet
forever overlooked, undesired without a wife
without posterity forever
shackled to this fate by God

Somebody please love me,
grab me by the hand
lift me up into your arms,
hoist my torso up – join it to yours
despite the imbalance, despite losing your center of gravity
your intense gaze may inspire me
your tender eyes may reverse the cumulative effect
of being perceived as odious
and reprehensible by my parents and kin
a boy mocked
but a callous heart's veneer cracking
by your care
your companionship is like
walking and jumping and praising God to me
if someone would just talk to me
invite me in
accepted, cared for, incorporated into community
my feet and ankles would immediately grow strong
proud to stand and dance the whole time
I would run in the Temple
and start praising God
I swear




----Leave Out All The Rest Lyrics

I dreamed I was missing
You were so scared
But no one would listen
Cause no one else cared

After my dreaming
I woke with this fear
What am I leaving
When I'm done here

So if you're asking me
I want you to know

[Chorus]
When my time comes
Forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some
Reasons to be missed

And don't resent me
And when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest
[End Chorus]

Don't be afraid
I've taken my beating
I've shed but I made

I'm strong on the surface
Not all the way through
I've never been perfect
But neither have you

So if you're asking me
I want you to know

[Chorus]
When my time comes
Forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some
Reasons to be missed

Don't resent me
And when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest
[End Chorus]

Forgetting
All the hurt inside
You've learned to hide so well

Pretending
Someone else can come and save me from myself
I can't be who you are

[Chorus]
When my time comes
Forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some
Reasons to be missed

Don't resent me
And when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest

Forgetting
All the hurt inside
You've learned to hide so well

Pretending
Someone else can come and save me from myself
I can't be who you are
I can't be who you are