It was never a matter
of us saving ourselves,
never a case where any one
could individually rise,
never a case where some could go higher
with others left behind

I see it now. My own rising
entails the rise of my esteem
for everyone I see.
The world is saved that way,
as we each see
the face of God in each other,
as we each witness
the glory of collective grace.

©Wendy Mulhern
May 18, 2019