Merciful undoing

Colleen Elisabeth Chao is an editor and author. She enjoys dark-dark chocolate, side-splitting laughter, and half-read books piled bedside. She makes her home near Boise, Idaho, with her husband Eddie, their son Jeremy, and Willow the dog.

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Merciful undoing

September 29, 2006

You use pain so wisely,
With infinite care,
Knowing right where
To push and pull and tear
And break and burn
Until I’ve finally learned
With all my being to yearn
For You only.

Merciful undoing:
This pain sets me free.
My blind eyes now can see
Unspeakable mystery—
This death leads to life,
No shortcut through strife;
With my good in mind
You’ve afflicted me.