Poem by Ruth Callaghan do Valle
Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash
“No way!” Joe said
“I’ll put some space between us.”
But you know, the thing is
He spoke to the One who
Spoke space into being
Of course He could see
The end from the beginning
And meet Joe in the place
He was hidden, unbidden
Joe boarded a ship and was
Well on his way but there
In the storm that overcame them
The sailors saw the spray flung high
And knowing they would surely die
Called on their gods to save them
Joe, now aware he should never have
Dared defy his God, offered his life
That the ship might be spared
And with wonder and awe the sailors saw
The sea grow calm, disarmed
As Joe sank through the waves
Not to a watery grave as he thought
But saved, swallowed, caught
Inside the mighty fish that caught him
Joe and his God get talking
They speak, and three nights after
The storm and disaster
Joe’s hurled on a beach
Grasping his second chance in both hands
He lands
And there proclaims what God has said
That He hates the iniquity of this great city
Which is always before Him
And in just forty days
His justice displayed
He’ll wipe it clean
And the city will stand there no more
Knowing what’s in store
They turn from their sin
The beggar to the King
And turn to the Lord, begging for mercy
For God to look graciously
And have great pity on their poor city
God, in His compassion
Relents from His intention
To throw them to destruction
And pardons them
But Joe, now angry, argues
Joe heard God’s heart for other nations
And from the start
He was quick off his mark
To make a break for it
Plan his escape from it
But understand the undertaking
It’s a kingdom that He’s making
Fast-forward to Revelation
There’s a multitude of nations gathered there
And round the the throne
A people for His own will stand, unmanned
And seeing our God face to face
Will fall face down
And throw their crowns before Him
Praising, rejoicing and giving Him glory
About Ruth Callaghan do Valle
Callaghan do Valle occasionally finds time to think during her daughter’s naptimes. She writes in English with forays into Portuguese, and lives in small-town rural Brazil with her husband and toddler. You can find Ruth’s spoken word on YouTube.
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