Creating Presence
Source of our yearning
You have created all that is from nothing –
Every place, every material reality, every person,
every thought, dream, experience of beauty,
every vision, every possibility
And you have created this particular domain we call New Jersey
land and water – ocean, rivers, lakes,
meadowlands, mountains, fields, gardens, pavement, parks,
cities, suburbs, towns, highways, buildings, homes
intoxicating springs, hot, humid summers, crisp, golden autumns,
snowy, icy winters, and storms of astonishing power we cannot ignore
You have created the millions of us here
and in the faces upon faces we have some sense of your image
how many hues you are, how many abilities you have
how indefinable you are in gender, in affection
in giftedness, in prowess and skill, in age
in what wonders you bring forth on earth
Just when we thought we had seen all of you
here is more
and more
and more of your image in the
staggering array of humanity in our midst
Redeeming Christ
Your life connects us to all divinity,
Especially to God’s heart of love yearning for us, beckoning, open, ready…
Here you are waiting for the train, on this bus, in that car, in the mall,
on this street, playing on this field, in the band, the orchestra,
in the dance (learned so long ago from ancestors in India,
the Philippines, Korea, Africa, Japan, the Islands,
the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens…)
in this school, in that cubicle, walking the hall of this hospital,
these are your holy mother and father to whom we offer these
diapers, this formula in Newark and Paterson and Dover,
the keys to this new apartment, this new house
this is you, O Christ, locked in the windowless detention center
yearning to breathe free
this is you, O Christ, eating in this feeding program,
lying down for rest in this shelter, needing clothing
here you are huddled on this corner, this highway
looking for – needing – work,
your hands cracked, cut and bruised
you are behind the wheel taking the kids to school, soccer, dance,
tutoring, music lessons, play date, to their father, their mother
(who has them for the weekend)
You are here when I am
alone
after she gave back the ring (we can still be friends)
when my daughter stares at me with hollow eyes
then slams the door heading out into the night
(will she be back?)
when they have all gone home after the funeral…
I still have things to say to him, even after all these years
after the baby (“try again” they unhelpfully say)
when I am kicked down the stairs at school
(“fag!” – they do know…)
frightened
that my cancer is back,
that the meds won’t work,
that a gang is recruiting my son,
that someone will break in,
that my check won’t last,
when I can’t answer the phone
because I didn’t pay last month
by myself
as I think about the rent, the mortgage, the tuition, food,
the car payment, the credit cards,
PSE&G
How do you keep up, O Christ, when we move so fast, when we plunge
headlong
through day
after day
after day
just clicks on the PDA, just a hundred more emails,
just another fistful of junk mail
should exercise
but can’t
got to go
can’t pausetobreathoreatorsleeporprayornoticeor care…
or live
Here in these days, these places we experience again
your passion,
your cross,
your death
And then here you are in each of our lives, moving with us over so many
boundaries, high walls of hate and fear, and loss
we thought were impenetrable, inviolable
it is you who lifts up our hearts by grace
and you lift our arms in embrace of this one
or that one
and even that one
bizarre
who so short a time ago
seemed repugnant, worthy only of
disdain
Your resurrection transforms all
and now, our hearts are beating
together
– full alive
only you could have us
all of us as one
and every person
be who we
almost impossibly
are
in you – vital, vibrant, flourishing
in you – holy food and drink
you in us – the only true break
of our lifelong fast
Life-giving Spirit
Holy wisdom,
liberator, healer, comforter,
bearer of truth
offering our spirits we join with you, yes, Holy Spirit
to soar in the warmth of your wings
trusting in you
hoping through you
brooding with you
creating by your power
enlighten us to what actually is
give us eyes to see what we have denied
fly in us
against demeaning, destructive oppression
against all that would kill, mutilate and lay waste to us or any
lift us from our enclaves of privilege and wealth
(where net worth leaves us feeling worthless)
from cells of imprisoning poverty,
from the prison of pointless, unsatisfying consumer goods,
from mindless distraction
(keeptheblackberryipodgameboygoingallthetime)
and murderous destitution
Rushing wind of God in this split second, in this season, in this confounding place
envelop us in commitment to hear your prophetic voice
to be your perceptive, penetrating presence
and to renew this world
Bear us on the wings of your glory
to your heart beating strong in the breast of this world
You are the end of
all
our yearning. Amen.