A word from my childhood with some biblical meaning.

One I never could understand.

It always startled me, like mother trying to get my attention;

Perhaps for a surprise,

Or to bring something really important to my attention.

 

I always felt it was a word restricted to nuns,

Or clergy,

Those who had the right to behold something,

Or had some special insight that was granted them because of their habit,

Or maybe some special relationship with a saint.

 

Anyway, behold was above my childish paygrade,

And my theological understanding,

Because I thought my relationship with God was based on knowledge,

Dispensed from those who were authorized to do so.

 

When all I really had to do was look, pause … no gaze.

And I would see God for myself in most everyone and everything.