Outcasts The Lepers of the 90’s Who are they? The broken and torn Used and abused God heals them too. He beats his wife! She’s consumed with fear And a sense of hopelessness. Jesus hung on the cross To take her pain. He shoots up! Doesn’t understand? Cause of addiction As his days continuously merge Into one endless nightmare. Jesus extends His hands To take on his infliction. The child cries into her pillow. So confused over daddy’s interest In her sexual growth. Did she provoke? Jesus weeps with her, And whispers words of comfort. He’s so lost without his wife? Can’t comprehend the accident that took her. He’s overwhelmed in his grief. As Jesus reaches His arms out And hugs him Consoling in his sorrow. His blank stare Coffee goes cold. In quiet disbelief. His son just told him he’s gay. How to respond? God guides, Love him anyway. She’s muttering to herself again, Another delusion takes form. Family helplessly look on. The doctor’s diagnosis is grim. But God is bigger than all of this. They see a slight twinkle in her eyes. The pain of puberty Peer pressure too much! He goes off the rails, Running with the wrong crowd. Stealing, smoking weed! His parents are at a loss. How to stop this rebellion? God has a plan. Her classmates can’t believe it. Her depression so great! Seemed so happy But it was all one big mistake. Her togetherness she faked The suicide note states, But God can heal their pain. Let it not be in vain. Grandpa’s lost his edge, Taste for life, Funny stories, And history in his memory As Alzheimer’s kicks in He doesn’t recognise his family. But God remembers him. She nervously fidgets Keeps looking at the ground. As this teenager whispers, “I’m pregnant, and the father’s skipped town” Her parents retain self control, As God takes hold. And helps them to face it together, Welcome this new life. The lepers of the 90’s These are their stories, I tell, As everybody hurts, Take comfort in His word. Jesus hung on the cross for you and I. And in all of these situations, I can see me. Are you in here too? Let’s share the bread and the wine And remember Christ’s suffering, So we wouldn’t have to. He did this for you and for me. Celebrate Christ’s victory! © Elizabeth 6th August 1999 "I wrote this poem and shared it in church as a prelude to taking communion. This poem was inspired by the scripture in Matthew 8:1-4, about the Leper that approached Jesus for healing. And it got me thinking, who are the Lepers of today? Not necessarily a “sickness” as such, but those rejected by society and in pain, suffering from domestic violence, discovering their sexuality, or depressed to the point of death! So then I began to write, “Outcasts”. Please pray and praise God, that He took this pain for us, when He hung on the Cross…"