Springtime Drive

 

Bumblebee on a blooming redbud tree

Went to Siler City yesterday for pickleball

such a beautiful drive there and back

almost no traffic

how could I help but praise God

for redbud trees in full bloom

an indescribable color

at the edge of woods or in yards

I saw yellow forsythia too

tips of trees edged now in green.

 

Passed Sunshine Alpaca Farm

several months ago I stopped

bought alpaca wool socks so soft and light

in liturgical colors purple green red

to wear Sundays peeking out

at the bottom of my black robe

I’m wearing purple now

wear red on white Sundays

Pentecost will be my last red-sock Sunday

as appointed pastor I hope.

 

Passed a church called Joy Baptist

smiled remembering Willimon saying

if churches are named after emotions

then fear would be a better word

because we are fearful people

funny but true.

 

Passed Howard and Meemaw’s Farm

where we buy strawberries peaches ice cream

peach orchard in full glorious bloom

promising another good year for peaches

ours are the best in North Carolina maybe the whole world

Meemaw told me last July

yes I mused eyes closed

inhaling the scent of a large ripe peach.

 

Thank you God for springtime and peaches.

Prayer for a New and Right Spirit

 

The sun is setting on my time as pastor

Wrote then deleted post about denominational anger

over being treated as less-than... again.

 

Thought about it.

 

Maybe a lot of the anger is displaced

God knows I feel anguish  

over corrupt incompetent president

his malicious terrible sidekicks

hurting people without regard

angry with maybe half a congregation

I suspect voted for him

what has my preaching been for these years

oh I know you love being entertained

has there been no change nor softening of hearts

toward the poor the hungry the suffering?

 

Then in prayer I hear

what you think you’re better than Isaiah or Ezekiel?

many hearts never change

you might not realize the ones that do.

 

Speaking of displaced anger

what about our beloved youngest

who has been politically socially corrupted

by spouse

can’t be angry with our child

hard to be angry with the spouse

(we fight it)

so anger gets displaced.

 

Displaced anger maybe from something stupid

like a finance meeting where we discuss

yet again

the church's refusal to move giving 

into the 21^st century 

25 years late

those younger than 40 don’t even own a check book!

(I’m getting angry)

your next pastor will demand it

then I will quit someone said.

 

So maybe my anger is displaced on a position

that represents power to me

easier to be angry with someone who’s new in the job

and dog-paddling around in the deep end.

 

All of this is everything

yet in a big picture I cannot see

it is all nothing.

 

Create in me a clean heart O God

and put a new and right spirit within me.