Many people spread their cloaks on the road… Mark 11:8

Giver of all things, places
times and happenings,
who dares to challenge
the princes of power by
riding a donkey through 
the holy gates of life
controlled by the few,
give us all rainbow-
colored coats and
cloaks with floral prints
so the fields of roads
blossom with flowers
underneath your last ride.
Amen.

Spring Reminders

Spring flowers do not fear stepping out;
unfolding to include all of the arrayed light.
Yes, it is okay to extend the covenant of living
to reach folks carrying the heavy stuff placed
in their arms by the hopers of the gospel of help.
A good conversation where words do surgery
teaches me to prepare my inner child's voice 
to expand the prophetic imagination.  Channeled
anger resists truth-telling accountable to no one
in a responsible position with any power over
who is more exceptional in providing charity
to those who know no justice.  All people 
color when leading the march to eliminate
silence as a standard of perfection.  So pick 
your own assortment of phrases that will help you
resist isolation from the practice of calling out
and bringing nothing in except another challenge
to hope that others will take care of the self
while delivering gifts of care to the community.

Two Deer

Allow risk in worship of the flowers
blooming this time of year.  It is not 
your responsibility to stimulate others
into smiling and nodding at the pleasures
of life.  Two deer will always stroll by
the window when you try to write these 
words.  Another first day of spring gently 
moves across the cacophony only heard 
by the few. 

The Spider in the Corner

I sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I don't want to give the words 
of the prophet any chance 
to ruin my day today."

She rolled over and, waking up,
slowly said, "Was that you yelling
in the bathroom?"

"Yes," I answered.  "I stepped out
of the shower and turned to the spider
in the corner above the door and asked,
How do you get food?"

Yawning while arching her back to stretch,
she said, "It helps to remember that
creation and completion are two
very different acts."

I agreed.  "Such a strong feeling threatens
to overwhelm me."

She sat up.  "All the more reason
to recognize your need to be in
the midst of people who stimulate you."

Playground

The introduction of body trauma at the age of six
draws ghosts and demons out of dark closets,
like a ruinous rush of children onto the playground
before someone gets hurt at recess by falling
off the monkey bars because, given the chance,
words can become tangled and powerless to prevent 
this spring morning day to come crashing down
around any intentional steps taken beyond
the timbered bark confine enclosing the days games.

I will remember their sin no more. – Jeremiah 31:34

Rememberer, who writes with a finger
of fire on our forgetful hearts,
do not depart from us when 
we no longer look back on 
the days that are surely coming,
for we cannot see what is written there
on the hearts of others and, confused,
continue to confound remorseful
contrition with wounding indifference.
Amen.