The Idol

The Idol

(“You are not to craft for yourselves an idol or anything resembling what is in the skies above, or on earth beneath, or in the water sources under the earth.” Exodus 20:4)

His voice was crackling like firewood,
his face hotter than an embarrassed teen,
his gait the sideways hustle of a man convinced he
is sent from God. His words full of lies and deception,
His proclamations completely committed to retribution.
And all the believers, the jesus type of people who drew
iron circles around the mountains of faith, they all called him
the messiah sent from god.
And yet not one could see, even if they had wanted to,
that the man was a fraud, a Nero-type psychotic,
speaking like a despotic king taking charge of everything.
And worship leaders hawked their words for millions and
power. They bundled real estate like late night shots of tequila
to take back the land for god.
Like Delilah they tied him to a chair and did unspeakable things there.
He was their prince, he was their paramour, he was the answer to
cultural morose battles.

But still there were a few who, lacking portents of anger,
gave water to the thirsty, walked to the courthouse with immigrants,
carried signs asking for sanity, and sang the songs of peace and
unity.

We were not the silent ones, not after an insurrection with a gallows
lifted for the head of the second in charge. We knew, against all odds,
the time was over for indistinct words of spirit that very few understood.
Instead we wrote our names on the sidewalks of every town,
guiding them to hot meals, warm beds, and rural hospitals
still standing, for the time being. We did dance. But only because
we have met the Lord of Love and know, without a blink,
that he has nothing to do with the hot-faced wannabe king who
is trying to take over everything.
God will have his day. The tear gas will clear. The horizon
will be decorated with double rainbows by day and
the aurora borealis by night. We cannot capture either,
cannot bring it up for a vote. But we will stand without moving
as we see the face of Christ connecting everything through love.
As we see the cloud of the Spirit cooling every angry word.
As we see the love of the Father, undoing our idols, tearing them down,
and leaving them post-revolution, broken on the ground.

You Deserve More

You Deserve More

(“Make Your face to shine on Your servant; save me by Your lovingkindness.” Psalm 31:16)

Have you always thought you deserve more than
blizzard skies and hardpan scraps? Have you wondered
why
the earth wraps you from
outside, from farm to town?
Have you looked for smiles on a day
that crashes like thunder?
Have you dashed around the corner and
startled a toddler holding his mother’s
hand?

Have you had your words
dissected from your mouth;
have the tunes you knew from
tooth to grin
made you wish for long summers of
touch football again?
Have you shared a beer with
a widow and watched the tears begin?
Have you paid for another friend’s lunch
while he wasn’t looking? Have you
talked too much because you rarely talk
at all?

Wave, even if no one is watching. The air that
is stirred by the hummingbirds’ wings
brings the morning songs out to play. The
couple remodeling their house saw you
walk by, and giggled.

Each day is camouflage, each night is subversive,
each moon is a grin, each star a wink,
each breath a ripple that
revolves around thoughts uncontrolled.

Have you understood that tears still fall when
there is no one to see them?