… To do evil upon? 

To trap, to manipulate, to use, to discard, like a child’s broken plaything.

Would you help?

Would you but truly help?

For has God not shown you that in the helping of the good of others is as in helping of the good of yourself? 

And as it is so, would you but then help those that are in need of help?

Whether it is asked of you, or you of it, would you help? Would you but truly help?

And in what measure would you do just so? And help for the good.

In nothing? 

By a little? 

In just enough? 

Or, in all, and completely, and more besides? 

Would you help?

Would you but truly help?

Would you?

And in what measure be this help of yours offered, and given? 

In all occasion? Without question?

Without circumstance? Without condition?

And where measure itself be not a gauge of your helpfulness.

Would you help as such?

Would you help the lamb that is lost? 

Would you help her find her way to her mother again? 

That she be lost no more?

Would you? 

Would you help?

And as you would help that lost lamb, would you also help the persecuted lamb? 

The lamb that is spent, and beaten, and abandoned as she is.

The lamb that is surrounded by ravenous wolves.

The lamb that is about to be slaughtered, slain, devoured.

Would you help that lamb too?

Would you?

Would you but truly help? 

For has God not shown you that in the helping of the good of others is as in helping of the good of yourself? 

Has she not shown you that?

•

The Church of St Giles, Cambridge, England, U.K. ~ 28 July 2023

——
*Photography: Original and sourced Paintings of St Giles and the Deer.