Like Thread Through a Needle

A few weeks ago I came across a brief poem by W. S. Merwin, the 17th United States Poet Laureate. It is one of the most simple, eloquent, and heartrending three lines I have ever experienced.

Separation
Your absence has gone through me
Like a thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.

As I read the words of the poem my heart ached with the memory of losses I have endured. Hazy pictures of grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and relationships floated like apparitions through my mind. I realized that each absence or loss was indeed stitched into the fabric of my being.

As I ponder the fabric of my life I see it as a nice, rich blue color. Although I appear to be a happy and optimistic sanguine personality type much of the time, the reality is I’m a melancholy. I am a pensive, deep thinker, with an inclination toward depression. When the black and dark gray threads of loss are sewn into my fabric they tend to blend into the dark blue background. Most people can’t see the dark undertones and I do my best to ignore them until just the right light makes them clearly evident.

There are many other colors in my fabric. I can see the bright yellow threads of enthusiasm and energy, the intense red threads of passion for people and beloved activities, and the rich green threads of safety and security. Looking closely at my fabric I discover dark threads carefully sewn among the brighter colors reminding me that life goes in cycles. The dark times are inevitably followed by the vibrant colors of life.

Looking again at the poem by W. S. Merwin I found the words changing to represent the most important person in my life, Jesus the Messiah.

Salvation
Your presence has gone through me
Like a thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.

My relationship with Jesus brings the brilliance of silver and gold to the fabric of my life. In the silver threads I catch a glimpse of myself as others see me. I am reminded of the hope I have and God’s unconditional love. The gold threads affirm God’s great compassion for me and that He has prepared a place in heaven with Him for eternity.

Each of the threads applied to the fabric of my being have produced a unique picture of a life lived to the fullest. I have moved “From Separation to Salvation”. I am a life transformed by Christ!