Up On That Tree

Yesterday, once again, the liturgy of worship reached into my heart. This time, it caused me to remember.

 

“Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord,

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son,

Who reached out to heal the sick and suffering,

Who preached good news to the poor,

And who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.”

 

Back up to my senior year of college. On 11/3/98, sitting at the piano in the chapel at Meredith College, looking up at the cross in the organ pipes, tears streaming down my face, I wrote:

 

Burdened for friends. Upset about my recital. Thinking about Cornhuskin’ (homecoming) and all of the spirit involved, wondering how many people are really hurting underneath the cheer…I can’t draw my image of Jesus on the cross—but it is so real to me and I want to communicate it. So this is it—that image—in words. It is my earnest plea for help—Jesus’ arms wrapped around me—up on that tree.

 

I see you there, hanging on that tree

I see you there, looking down at me

I feel your pain, I feel your hurt

I see your heart, broken for those you love

You’re waiting there, arms open wide

Like I’m waiting here, trying to survive

Oh I see you there, compassion in your eyes

I see you there, I want to come up

 

So you can hold me now

Put your arms around me

‘Cause I need you now

Like I’ve never needed you before

I need you now to help me bear this load

 

I see you there, hanging alone

Like I see me here, feeling alone

I turn from you, head hanging low

But you reach for me, You take my hand

So I slowly climb, up on that tree

A child again, held by a friend

Your blood on my skin, I put it there

My sin on you, but you don’t care

 

You just hold me now

Put your arms around me

‘Cause I need you now

Like I’ve never needed you before

And you need me now

To let you bear this load

 

“Who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.”

 

Amen.

And amen.