Philippians 2:5-8 (New International Version)

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
*****
The great spirit, so far above us,
intent on showing it love us,
in letting go of its almightiness
became as its creature, all piteous
(embracing weakness, for love)
then, having become as we, weakly,
most humbly stepped down, even meekly,
becoming yet less: gave up living,
than which there can be no greater giving
(embracing even death, for love)
except for that final surrender,
facing torture alone, no defender,
accepting a death most lowly,
revealing that suffering is holy
(embracing all pain, for love)
-HJ July 2010