The Essence of Goodness #1928

The Essence of Goodness In the whisper of winds through the wild, A question lingers, soft and mild, "Why callest thou me good?" echoes deep, Through valleys where silent shadows creep. There, in the heart of a world astray, The Teacher speaks, as light splits grey: "There is none good but One," He declares, Above the tumult of life's affairs. The goodness of mortals, frail and fleeting, Is not the summit of heavenly meeting. Only One wears purity as a crown, In realms where grace and truth abound. God alone, the source of all that’s right, In Him, the darkness turns to bright. His goodness—a river, deep and wide, Where hope and mercy sweetly coincide. We chase through mazes of moral bends, Seeking virtue as means, not ends. Yet, true goodness, from the Divine, Is gift, not gain; sacred, not mine. So pause, soul, in your earnest quest, Look beyond deeds that mark the best. In the echoes of the Master’s word, Find the One good, our Lord, our God. -Steven G. Lee (June 24, 2024)