against our despisers

This isn’t an aerial view of northern barrens.
This is the bark on a red maple in my yard.
Not pretty as you might suppose.
But i think it beautiful, though barren.
And it got me thinking about the criticisms
you’ve raised against my church.
I have a revelation for you: all you see is bark.
Yes, it can appear damp, dark and even dead.
But you don’t know that coursing beneath
its hoary membrane is life teaming.
In the heart is sweet sap and living fluids.
Where you see lifeless and harsh presentations,
I see a protective layer against your damned disease.
There is something so beautiful in the core
that it would take your breath away.
Oddly, it’s when we’re at our best that
we don’t give a crap how we look to you!
But, loathing to look and deigning to discern,
you depart despising what you yourself have necessitated.