Habitation

The Father has a penchant
for fixer uppers
we human houses with 
peeling paint, rusted pipes 
cracked shingles, faulty wiring 
and shoddy foundations 
desperately in need 
of reconstruction. 
No point in us
beating our chests
or patting ourselves on the back 
after Christ is done renovating 
our souls.
He’s the one who gets credit 
for making us beautiful. 
Don’t forget
we started off poor in spirit 
meek and mourning,
parched and panting.
Before we could even imagine 
inheriting the earth
we had to sink low enough
to comprehend the wisdom 
of looking up.
Once we did
we found the Lord
waiting and ready
to make our fleshly houses 
suitable for
his habitation
and his gift
of joy. 

1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 

“Habitation” from Glory in the Margins by Nikki Grimes. © Copyright 2021 by Nikki Grimes. Used by permission of Paraclete Press, www.paracletepress.com.