Written while on retreat at Chelmsford
Diocesan Retreat House at Pleshey.
Affixed in Pleshey’s grounds
A solitary cross
Stands there, a reminder
Of costly price once paid
By Jesus, Son of God
To break the barrier
Of sin, by which we once
Were held and cast adrift
From God’s eternal love
And held in captive state
The punishment of which
Our sins deserved, and more
But by his grace removed
And shouldered by the Lamb
Who was content to take
Our place, by which we are
Set free to live, now He
Calls us to live with Him
In service, love and joy
Humility and peace
To love as He has loved
And still loves to this day
To evermore deny
Ourselves and so take up
Our cross, a burden which
Is light, an easy yoke
Unlike the one that He
Who for our sins became
As sin, who knew no sin
The bloody sacrifice
Appeased the wrath of God
Sin is now cast adrift
Held in captivity
Whereas true life and peace
Is through the lonely cross
As mirrored by the one
Affixed in Pleshey’s grounds.
Dominus-Iesus-est 