Would that demons
could be sweet-talked
into release,
that the
perfect petition
correct niceties
best biblical treatise
purest sacrifice
would send them
fleeing over the cliffs.
Then the President would sing,
then Bree would climb freely,
then the sweet by-and-by
would be now.
But no.
Wishfulness
has no place
in exorcism.
The demons rage
and threaten;
they set fire and
cast a haze of doubt
as to the smoldering;
they twist words,
contort understanding,
hide behind good intentions;
they distract from their own exorcism
by perpetuating the need for triage
requiring that the anointing oil
the balm of gilead
be passed frantically
precious drop after drop
blood and oil both too costly.
Who can heal in order to fight
if the wounds are
unceasing?
Yet by the grace of God
the wounded stand and
command exorcism.
Yet by the grace of God
the oil multiplies to heal
another life, another day.
Now let the sweet-talkers
find their legs instead of their tongues.
Let the peacemakers and pacifiers
resign their anointing and strain their backs
in the picking and pressing of olives
for a new oil of healing.
Let the doubters abandon the hubris of proof
and with humility attend to the wounds
prioritize that sacred balm
where it is most needed
not where it is most sanitized.
Let our words blush and our actions falter
that do any less than drive out demons
and carry God’s fullest healing.