"Coming With Questions"

This is my personal encounter (in 1995) with John 3:1-17. As Martin Luther said (in essence), this is the beginning of when I began to daily put on the garment of my baptism.

She stood outside
in the dark
of an August night ...
so uninvited,
so unannounced.

She stood outside
ringing the doorbell,
knocking on the door,
wondering what words
might come from her mouth;
she had no thoughts as to
what sentences,
if any,
might flow.

The pastor opened the door
and welcomed her in ....
even without the fair warning
that he deserved,
he welcomed her in.
His wife pointed to the sofa
yet she chose the floor.
It seemed right
for some reason.

Her first words were,
"I don't know
what has just happened"
and her words continued
to fall into a jumbled,
confused mess.

His words were simply this ....
"Nicodemus.
You remind me
of Nicodemus."
She knew nothing
of this Nicodemus
and was too embarrassed
to ask.

He then picked up a book
and read to her
from the Gospel of John.
The words were
of someone who encountered
this man named Jesus,
in the dark,
alone,
seeking answers
to questions,
yet not understanding.

Her heart beat faster,
for she recognized
this encounter
and this man
named Nicodemus
for this was her encounter
as well.

Her heart beat faster still,
as she heard that
God loved her before ...
before she asked for this Love,
before she admitted to
needing this Love,
before she sought to
understand such a Love,
before she realized that she
wanted this Giving Love.

She knew nothing
of Nicodemus then,
but claims
this encounter now,
for she remembers
the darkness
of a sanctuary
and the Light
that walked in,
so uninvited,
so unannounced
and from her questions
he said to her,
"For God so loves you...."