The Mystery and the Longing

    Why are you weeping?
    The mystery and longing of this morning
    revealed and unrecognized, misunderstood
    “if you have taken him...”

    Ordinary extraordinary from the grave
    reach out but do not grasp
    further on further into mystery
    truly risen into unsettled perfection
    flesh and wonder spirit rise

    Why are you weeping?
    The mystery and longing of this day
    now named and recognized, realized
    “I have seen the Lord.”

(John 20:11-18)

An Easter Morning Meditation

    How can I celebrate the resurrection when Iran is under bombs?
    When Venezuela is being plundered?
    When Gaza is little but rubble?
    When Ukraine is burning?
    When citizens are shot in the street?
    When immigrant children are ripped from the arms of their mothers?
    
    I don’t know. I don’t know.
    But he is risen.
    Indeed.

A Meditation on Holy Saturday

    Yesterday’s jagged thunder and lightning fled but the wind remained, and it was cruel. I tried to find my way to the tomb and to silence from unnecessary words.
    Stumbling down broken steps
    through susurrant pines
    and buildings with blackout security precautions
    and private property cameras.
    I heard screaming ambulance sirens
    on hidden highways.
    I smelled marijuana.
    I walked by braying dogs at cemetery gates and death and Hades followed.
    I tried to find my way to the tomb and to silence.

A Good Friday Meditation

    Good Friday and the world has slipped from time. I spent the day walking in the wind and in the rain. Walking late and overtime in the cold.

    They took charge of Jesus, and carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the skull. Look into the dust of it. The scent and tang of earth upon the air. Dust to dust.

    “Happy Easter!” someone shouted from their porch as I passed. Golgotha.

    Why do they…? Why do I…? But prove all things by the strength of love. This love. Digged deep and love laid low.

    “He is risen!” I replied but it was too early. And there was no one there where they crucified him.

(John19:17-18)

Yeehaw for the GOP (a song)

Here's a low-fi recording of a goofy little song I wrote as I was out and about the past couple of days. I hope you'll like it. 

You’ll go to war with everyone, you’re ready to invade
bombing schools and burning mosques is how this game is played.
Burn the oil, blot out the sun make it darker everyday
it’s the end of time, the final reel and Jesus is on his way.

Take advice from fools and cross against the lights
you’re just a graveyard bully who’s pickin’ another fight.
You deliberately misunderstand the doctrine that you claim
Everything you touch turns into another round of shame

Yeehaw for the GOP
for God and country.
Yeehaw for the GOP
Ain’t that somethin’
Fox News lovin’
modern Know Nothin’s
God’s Own Party, yessiree.

You don’t want the immigrant, the woman, or the gays
You only want the schools where the teachers bow to pray
Dismiss the prophets, malign the mystics these books you’ll never read
ignorance is the way to your nationalistic creed.

Lincoln’s party has devolved from what it used to be
I remember how you sang, “Let us die to set men free.” 
Building prisons, camps, and jails, and all of them for profit,
Deregulation is your way to bigger bank deposits.

Yeehaw for the GOP
for God and country.
Yeehaw for the GOP
Ain’t that somethin’
Fox News lovin’
modern Know Nothin’s
God’s Own Party, yessiree.

Jesus ain’t no Democrat, I know this to be true
but how could anyone see the Lord above when they look at you?
Mister Rodgers was a Republican, a man I could respect.
If more of you were more like him, I’d hug and kiss your necks.

Yeehaw for the GOP
for God and country.
Yeehaw for the GOP
Ain’t that somethin’
Fox News lovin’
modern Know Nothin’s
God’s Own Party, yessiree.