“Give Me the Dirt”

Give Me the Dirt

By Audrey Perry

For years they tried to take my Kingdom

Forcing their way with guilt and shame

Convincing all my little ones:

“Work hard, remove your shame!”

Brick by brick they covered my law

With the dos and don’ts of their pride

They patted their backs and padded their pockets

Constructed a temple with their lies

They took away people’s choices

Oppressed the poor with heavy chains

Convinced them with coercion

Manipulated my truths for their gain

Then they beat the backs of the children

Hushed my voice of wisdom in the street

Kept themselves far, far away

And called themselves priests!

They carved my name over their doorposts

Held feasts on the tops of graves

And in their bloody fields of filth

They dined like prostitutes depraved

They rose their cups to toast to arrogance

Their portion running rampant with disease

Wearing fancy garments in their religious courts

Covered with violence and greed

I beheld this horrid, gruesome scene

Looking down on My creation

I heard her groans and saw her pain

 And was filled with holy frustration

And just as We’d decided

From the foundations of the earth

The time had come for deliverance

I asked my father, “Give me the dirt.”

I left a place that knew no pain

Knowing how much it would hurt

And pursued mankind with all my might

Crying out, “Father, give me the dirt!”

And there I dwelt among them

And beheld with my fleshly eyes

The distance they’d put between us

Their ears deafened to my cries

I loved them in their chaos

I touched them with my hands

I drew near so I could show them

Their Father understands

When I entered into my temple

And saw the bartering and weights

I told them I would tear it down

And rebuild it in three days

But their unbelief had blinded them

They didn’t understand what I meant

The kingdoms of their world were falling

And I would not relent

I let them tear my flesh wide open

The veil was ripped in two

And with my dying breath I cried,

“Father, let them be with you.”

After all the shaking

Silence settled in

My breathless body suspended

Ransomed for their sin

Forgiveness, such a filthy word

Piercing at its core

Costly blood and water given

Because I saw something more

Something more than sinful people

Something more than foolish pride

I saw there hidden in the dirty field

A pure and spotless bride

The work is now finished

My broken body’s exposed their lies

I’ve given you a wide-open door

Carved from my very side

Enter in and listen,

Won’t you hear wisdom’s call?

The power of sin’s been broken

Once and for all

Listen, oh ears and see, oh eyes!

You are why I came to earth

You are the precious, hidden treasure

I found hidden in the dirt