Agape 1

Agape 1

(for Brian and Francine)

Light shines around him when he speaks

messages from the heart, the soul

and I think of Mary, the one who washed

Jesus' feet the week before his betrayal…

think of that kind of love, how I too, would

give my life for this, the man who lifts my soul

has taught me that love is far more than

physical, that there is something intangible

spiritual, like angels singing, the scene in

my favorite movie, Wings Of Desire, how angels

love as action and fierce, fierce, fierce—

he is fierce, wearing a red “bonnet” on Easter

and how he keeps going, even as a stranger,

his broken, angry message threatens a Sunday service

and in that moment, I make peace with something divine,

leave my seat by my partner, take up a seat next to

stranger, knowing, I would, like Mary, burn up like a leaf

in a holy fire of love, for this messenger, who laughs

who is fragile, and who heals my own brokenness

back to health.

James A. Stansberry

James is a Seattle writer/cancer warrior/psychic/medium.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

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