Rise

----------/Acts Chronicles Chapter 9: Rise: Peter's Words To Tabitha Before Healing Her


When I was young
I used to think Sadducees ruled the world blinded
by their demagoguery

My life was defined by flesh, bones, eyes and ears
visceral emotions and chronic fear of the passing of time
paranoia and frustration with the plight of the suffering
watching the hedonists rise and the Platonists fall debased
and ridiculed
for their naiveté and wistful yearnings for a reality that simply
didn’t exist (in some sense)
and so for a great deal of my childhood I harbored resentment
for women widowed and the poor famished
abandoned on roads winding towards the synagogue
brittle quivering hands brushed aside or trampled
by Roman brigades
and those who demanded strict adherence to a Law
with a conspicuously painful misunderstanding
that the defenseless need not only a judge but joy
and not reciprocity for evil but an influx of The Good
because money does not heal scars
and burly men pelting despicable criminals with jagged rocks
cant make the destitute no longer destitute
tears silently shed at night year after year for love lost
or objects thieved
or property desecrated
or a sister raped
or a father mocked in the presence of his family
not easily ameliorated or forgotten by the hasty callous response
"that's just the way life is"
"unfair and disproportionately balanced for us aristocrats"
and I mourned because society was bereft of a harbinger of hope
of true justice
afraid that I would die abruptly before I fully appreciated delight
unable to touch everything I wanted to touch
see the places I always wanted to see
love the people I wanted to love
or see my grandfather again
while the rich ate delicacies, I wanted better for myself
than mere water and bread, water and bread
disenfranchised though stubbornly dreaming for better things
(despite the finality)
craving for more

And now that Im grown
and have dispelled these myths
and seen these wrongs rectified by Truth
I promise you that death will no longer haunt good people
or rob communities of their strength
depriving them of a woman full of good works
and charitable deeds
(and beautifully sewn tunics and garments sold at a bargain)
that in resurrection everything will finally be made right





-----------------------/
Acts 9:36-43
At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.