Three Times Dead

Three Times Dead

Back in the day

There was darkness

When a bright silver light

More spark entered

And illumined my mind

It was an idea

Just an idea

Nothing more.

I said,

“What I should do

Is write my own 

Bible,”

Before I sat down

In my chair before

My dresser thinking,

‘I should read the Bible

To see what they

Are like’

I began with Romans 

At the place it concludes,

“What a wretched man

I am. Who can save me?

Jesus Christ.”

Immediately the lights

Went out and I fell

Out of my chair

On my face

On the floor

And broke

My glasses:

The first time I died. 

For many years

I was afraid to read

That passage

Afraid of God

Afraid of the Bible

So I prayed before

I read it again

While still at table

After a meal--

The same thing

Happened!

The last thing 

I remember was

My mom’s voice

Calling my name:

The second time

I had died.

Then I was in the doorway

Standing before a vision

Jesus asked me,

“Do you want to be saved?”

“Yeah… 

I mean, yes,” I said.

“What do I do?”

He said, “Die.”

It was dark

I had no sense 

Of the movement

Of time there

I heard no sound:

The third time I died.

I had collapsed 

And had nearly fallen

On Jesus’ breast:

Was I born again?

“You aren’t born

That way,” a voice

In my breast said.

“What now?” I asked

“You can leave

And go anywhere

You want or

You can stay

With me here

In my love?

“No thanks,” I said

And started to leave,

“On second thought

I’ll stay for love.”

“Now you are saved,”

The voice in my breast

Concluded.