It was Jesus

It was Jesus

by Joel Howard

In Ecclesiastes

Poor, poor Solomon: 

"What the heck! Joy's not working!" 

As he packed in the surprises

Taking triple-sizes

So it is with us

We replicate the great

And avoid the small

Despising that which hasn't been joyful at all

We recognize the big

And scoff there upon the lame

So fleeing what we see in ourselves

(We are the same)

Solomon chased patterns 

of what he thought was true

But Lord of all the things he chased

He mostly forgot you!

It was you who made the heavens

It is you who sets kings up

It you who says "yes" to 

Satan's trials on us

It was you who strengthened Job

With the persistence of your prayers

Strengthen us right now

As we risk, as we dare...

To step into the blue when all others say life's red

Who step into the messy when it seems to be yielding death

To step into our weakness when (by God!) we wish for strength

To step into life's questions when answerlessness yields angst

To step down into homelessness and dine with fellow poor

To step into the loveless and see you among the forlorn

To step into the wondering, the crying and the lame

To step into the places only Jesus truly came

For if you are in big, then the big is where it's at!

But if you are in small, then I won't be seen, my friend

If joy was had by men, it's cuz Jesus showed his face

And if the martyrs bled, it's for Jesus, just the same

So if you're puzzled by this

And if you wonder why that

Maybe this here is your sign:

It was Jesus, that is why

It was Jesus, that is why