See the heart of God
embossed upon his word
bits of it rolled out in
the fine strips we call
the Ten Commandments.
Thou shalt not kill
is more than celebration of
the sanctity of life.
It’s designed to protect both
possible victim and
would-be perpetrator.
Think, here, of the soul
how murder leaves a stain.
Remember the Mark of Cain
the burden of his sin
the living death
his murder of Abel left
in its wake?
Deny this if you choose
but the capacity to kill
resides in the very tips
of our fingers.
Rage visits us all, my friends.
Cain raised his hands in anger
and lowered them in shame.
The Lord would spare us
the prison of that sin.
God’s highest hope for us
is freedom.
Exodus 20:13