This is the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the bread
that pictures the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the body
consumed by the bread
that pictures the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the church
comprising the body
consumed by the bread
that pictures the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the life
required by the church
comprising the body
consumed by the bread
that pictures the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the God
providing the life
required by the church
comprising the body
consumed by the bread
that pictures the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the blood
that nourished the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the wine
that pictures the blood
that nourished the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the people
revived by the wine
that pictures the blood
that nourished the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the vessel
composed of the people
revived by the wine
that pictures the blood
that nourished the life
that Jesus laid down.
This is the pouring out
of this lowly vessel
composed of the people
revived by the wine
that pictures the blood
that nourished the life
that Jesus laid down.
These show the life
that Jesus laid down.
Minute by minute.
Day by day.
Year by year.
Lifetime by lifetime.
Poured out and broken.
Given and taken.
Passed among thousands.
Multiplied amply,
Like the loaves and the fishes.
Each one a gift.
Each one a sacrifice.
Each one a new life:
Hungering for righteousness.
Thirsting for faith.
Fed and replete.
Lived to the full.
Offered back freely.
These are the lives
that Jesus takes up.
Blog In My Own Eye 
All I can add to that is AMEN!DU
That’s beautiful Keith. Really beautiful. Being a poet I really love it for it’s simplicity and depth.Since undergoing my near-death experience while on our “dream” vacation I’ve been thinking a lot about the 2 pints of red blood cells I was transfused with and how someone else gave their blood so that a complete stranger somewhere who needed it would receive it. As I lay there and watched the blood streaming slowly into my I. V. in my left arm, I thought even more about the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for ME, when I was yet a stranger to Him. It has had a very profound effect on me just in thinking about that one particular thing more than all of the rest of the 4 days in the Durango ICU (other than the surprise of it all).Thanks for writing that and sharing it. As always.Drop by when you have time, y’all! I waved to you while we zoomed through Little Rock Monday noon Keith!! So – let me ask you a question about that. Have you ever gone to or taken your kids over to “Toad Suck Park?” We thought that was the funniest sign on our trip!! What’s THAT all about, pray tell?!
You are so gifted–I am thankful you use your gifts to glorify Him!
Excellent post.This would be wonderful to read before communion. Very powerful and thought provoking. I join David U in saying AMEN!