If God is My Unsable Past

If God is my usable past,

the part worth saving,

the minutes, episodes,

chance in-counters

when I measure the moment

by soul standard,

an inward counting

of worth and meaning-

the past

stumbled upon

or given as an outright gift

to which I first said no

then later yes

with a bless-me-now

petition of recognition

instead of my normal

grudge;

yes!

that usable past

as even bruised fruit preserves

and shriveling grapes store sweet wine;

Then

out of the past, O God,

let the useless become usable,

the broken repaired,

the lost found

as when the prodigal’s nowhere

with a change of compass

becomes now here

at homecoming.