untangling the web

You appeared to Saul
unbidden, and unwanted.
Overwhelmingly lord, yet still servant.
This man had his life completely, inexorably changed,
upside-down, wrong side out, bottom to top –
changed.
But then it was said of your disciples
that they turned the world upside-down.
Why should I be surprised?
Even now, you prompt and prod people
to do what they would rather not do:
to give up their lifestyles, their lovers, their idols, their slaves
their possessions, perhaps even their very lives,
to become upside-down people.
Children become kings and queens,
slaves become masters,
illiterate become bards,
homeless become landlords.
The ordinary is changed into extraordinary
and all that is lowly becomes dignified and worthy.
So when you appear to me
unbidden and – I’m ashamed to say – sometimes unwanted,
may I welcome you
with a glad and generous heart.