Antonio

He watched
as his father
fell
several
stories
to save his family
from the fire.

He watched
him
crawl
to the firefighters.

He watched
his father
nurse
those injuries and
suffer.

He watched
as his father
his mother
his brothers
lost
themselves
in
the world.

                       So he lost himself in basketball.
                       So he hid and sheltered himself in the game.

He watched
a grown man
pull his daughter's arm.

"Never let a black boy open the door for you."

Only he didn't say
black boy.

He watched
a world that
judged by
the color of skin.

                       So he lost himself in basketball.
                       So he hid in the comfort of the stereotype.
                       So he gripped the flattery of the fame.
                      
He watched
the expectation
of his skin color
and hid in that
expectation.

For all his watching he did more hiding.

But he could not hide from
Him.

He had been watching him
ALL ALONG.

The Savior knew
                         why he lost himself in basketball.
The Savior understood
                         why he hid in the comfort of the stereotype.
The Savior cried
                         as he was judged by what he couldn't change.


It was undeserved - this love
this knowing, understanding, crying
    from the Savior.

But it is always undeserved - this love
this knowing, understanding, crying
    from the Savior.

That is why its beauty is such a gift to the
broken
undeserving
fallen
judged
hurting
lost.

It was his gift.

And now he gives it back -
to many just like him
                              who lose themselves
                              who hide
                              who are judged
                              who cry

Because those who are undeserving
tell BEST the story of the gift
of grace.