Laurel

You are my only love. 

You are closer than all others— 

All others whom I love, 

And those who love me. 

Whence came this love? 

It was born of you 

In your love for me. 

Yet beyond even you 

It came from Him 

Who is love Himself.

He, too, has a Bride. 

I meant to say 

I, too, have a Bride. 

For He has always had His Bride 

Before even the world began. 

Time was not with Him.
In His heart 

She was born to Him 

Who for her sake 

Became Man, and lived, 

And living, died. 

His full love for her 

Won her wondering heart 

On Calvary’s hill.

I am in Him 

And He in me. 

I, with all others, 

Am also His Bride, 

But this He did for me, 

He gave me His Bridegroom’s love 

To love you for ever. 

To love you where my mind, 

Lost in its loveless ego, 

Loved me more than others.

I, too, have been to Calvary,
First to curse and then to kiss. 

His love destroyed the ego, 

Bringing it to life again
As the new self, lost in Him. 

Else I had never loved you 

With ought but ego love, 

Seeking you for myself
And not for you.

Each day His Calvary love kills 

Old ego that would rise. 

Each day His pristine love 

Repristinates my own
Until I love afresh 

With Calvary love— 

God’s agape that grows 

Beyond romantic love
Which hides Man’s ego love: 

So does His love 

Love you, through me.

This love’s a mystery. 

Daily the Marriage Feast 

Draws nearer in our time, 

But in our time delights to be 

As it one day will be 

In time’s full time. 

Now in our love the Feast is here 

And you love me 

As I love you 

With Calvary Bridal love. 

And ever will.

From All Things of the Spirit, by Geoffrey C. Bingham, pp. 152-4