I saw him here once, a long time since.
He smiled at me
as I watched in awe.
His great light flooded that dark place,
the pure brilliance almost blinding me.
But I could still see the deep sadness in his eyes
as those gentle hands lifted the tiny broken body
and tucked it deep within the folds of his glowing robe.
I saw his feet were bare
untouched by the mud he stood in.
He turned as if to go, then seemed to remember me.
He held out his hand
I ran forward, my hand stretching to grasp his.
He frowned.
I fell to my knees.
The power of that frown!
Enough to smite a nation,
draw thunder and send lightening crackling across the stormy sky.
As I knelt in the mud before him,
a prayer in my heart,
I felt that hand touch my head
gentle as light
weighty as eternity
and warmth and peace filled me.
I dared raise my eyes to his,
and almost lost myself.
They held the sorrow and joys of all the world
all cruelty, injustice, abuse, failure
yet every triumph and every laugh.
Timeless eyes,
who had seen eternity begin and would see it end.
But also only the eyes of a gentle young man,
the faintest of lines tracing their corners.
He took his hand from my head
and wiped away my tears with infinite grace.
He spoke:
‘Peace be with you’
Then was gone.