Surprised by Mercy

by Ralph I. Tilley 

He left home and wandered far,
     then decided to return,
     wondering if his father
     would hold it against him.
He was surprised by Mercy.

He was pronounced "unclean"
     because of a dreadful disease;
     shamed, isolated, ridiculed,
     his life was full of misery.
He was surprised by Mercy.

He was a captive of Satan,
     tormented day and night;
     chained, raging, and possessed,
     a prisoner of evil choices.
He was surprised by Mercy.

She was a disreputable person,
     condemned by all who knew her,
     having lived with many men;
     that day at the well her life was changed.
She was surprised by Mercy.

He was part of the inner circle,
     but in a crisis of choice
     he sorely failed, turning away;
     heartbroken, he looked back and saw those eyes.
He was surprised by Mercy.

His life was about to end,
     capital death was his due;
     there was no time to change,
     then he heard, "Today . . ."
He was surprised by Mercy.

He was only a young man,
     sixteen at the time —
     lost, confused, and seeking —
     then Jesus passed by.
I was surprised by Mercy.