Arise and walk, for God’s love heals
the heartbroken and binds up their wounds.

So says the rabbi to those unable to win
the competition to be cured.

And to those bent over and burdened
by years of pain or shame, he says, You’re free!

To the tired, worn-out, burnt-out, the rabbi calls,
Come to me and you will recover life.
Walk with me and work with me, to learn
to live in grace—living freely and lightly.

And to those who say God’s work can only be done
by following certain rules, the rabbi says,
What if the compassion you show to your pets,
even the care you give to your cars, were given also
to your sisters and brothers on earth?

Arise and walk, for God’s love heals
the heartbroken and binds up our wounds.

Tina Datsko de Sánchez serves as Poet in Residence at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach. Tina is the author of the bilingual poetry book The Delirium of Simón Bolívar.