I’ve always liked this poem by missionary, songwriter, author, and poet Amy Carmichael. I’ve ocassional shared it with servants of God who’ve experienced a rough, faith-challenging episode. It’s one of the poems I revisit every Lent, and this year it inspired this sketch.
Has Thou No Scar?
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land;
I hear them hail thy bright, ascendant star.
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers; spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned.
Hast thou no wound?
No wound? No scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And pierced are the feet that follow Me.
But thine are whole; can he have followed far
Who has no wound, no scar?
—Amy Charmichael
Roselee, this beautiful poem’s theme is discipleship. It hints that followers of Christ must share in his suffering.