The Border Line 

The problem is with the seeing.

If you never see their pain

you’d never feel it

wrap around your heart

quickening it’s beat

squeezing you to act.

The problem is with the hearing.

If you never hear the 

sounds of deep despair 

you’ll never know it

deep within your heart 

teaching you to care.

Stay here. Don’t go.

Don’t go to the border line

the line between us and them

the wall around the wealth 

that we’ve earned ourselves 

the privilege we worked hard for

for us and us alone

this entitlement we collect

by not being them.

Stay here. Don’t go.

Don’t go to the hard, dark place

where nothing at all makes sense

and humans traipse the earth

to find somewhere 

they can be human after all

after all the dust has settled

on the war zone

they once called home.

Don’t go. 

Don’t go to the border line

the impregnable line 

between us and them

don’t go where Jesus is 

what does He know?

He’s one of them!

Don’t go. Stay. Hush. 

Don’t make a fuss

It’s all okay. Here.

While they stay. There.

On the other side 

of the border line.

Look away. Don’t see.

Don’t look them in the eyes

you’ll just encourage them

to come

it will make them 

think you care.

Don’t stare.

Don’t let them think there’s hope 

that you are human

just like them.

Look away. Don’t see.

It’s all so clear

here. Inside our walls

in our arms-length 

armchair world

distanced from the struggle

free of those people 

free of their troubles

free to change the channel.

Don’t look. Don’t see. 

Out of sight out of mind.

Don’t feel the suffering of human beings.

Close your eyes tight. Tighter.

Don’t see past their skin

don’t see them as human

call them strangers

call them strange 

and estrange your heart

from them.

Look away. Don’t see.

Don’t see their human faces

the depths within their eyes

Don’t feel their tears 

drop onto your skin

burning into layers 

leading to your heart

don’t listen to it beat

like a human being

Block it out. Shut it down. Sleep. 

For if you wake, you’ll never sleep again.

Stay away. Far.

Look away. Fast.

Avoid their eyes

Don’t gaze too long. 

Don’t walk along

the dusty pain-ridden roads

they walk

as though the feet 

of Jesus trod that way.

He had no standards anyway.

Ignore them. Ignore Him.

Look away. Stay away. 

Walk away. Far away.

Don’t go to the border line

the line dividing us and them

don’t walk that way

don’t stop and talk to strangers

strangers with the crowns of thorns

with scars on hands 

with garments torn.

Stay away. Walk away.

Don’t go there. Don’t care.

You might see your face

next to theirs. 

Human.

You might not recognise yourself.

Don’t go there.

No. Stay right here.

It’s all so clear. Here. 

Within our walls 

of wealth.

Don’t go.

Don’t cross the line

For if you go you won’t return the same

If you wake you’ll never sleep again.

You world will break

your walls will break

your heart will break

open to the possibility 

that the world 

is bigger than you knew

more beautiful 

than you understood

and worth the fight

within yourself 

to win

for us and them.

The problem is with the seeing.

So open your eyes 

wide. Wider.

The problem is with the hearing

So open your ears, listen 

long. Longer. 

If you never hear the 

sound of Jesus calling,

you’ll never know it

deep within your heart,

teaching it to beat

soft. Softer.

Leading it to love

deep. Deeper.

Leading it to go

Go.

To the border line.