category: Poetry

Human Ways

By Rachael Keefe

I’ve been contemplating these texts for a while. If you are looking for sermon help, check out what I wrote here. The more I think about the events of the last couple of weeks along with the readings for this week, the more I am convinced that God is waiting …

Human Ways

I’ve been contemplating these texts for a while. If you are looking for sermon help, check out what I wrote here. The more I think about the events of the last couple of weeks along with the readings for this week, the more I am convinced that God is waiting for us. God waits for us to see the places large and small that God has already broken through the darkness. God waits for us to embody Christ for and with one another. God waits for us to be agents of justice and peace. God waits for us, prodding us, stirring us, leading us. Because I can’t shake this notion, I’m sharing with you my poem about this very thing. This poem is from A Circle in the Dark:  Daily Meditations for Advent and you can find more information here.

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Human Ways

You keep your covenant with day and night
and populate the earth with Your people.
The sands of the sea remain as immeasurable
as our capacity to turn from You.

Never has the world known peace
which we seem to pursue with violence
again and again
rejecting Your ways.

We blame You for destruction—
earthquake, fire, disease, tidal waves—
while we spill oil into the oceans,
strip forests of life,
poison the very air we breathe,
not to mention valuing one life over another . . .

Yet, You remain steadfast in Your love for us.
Perhaps it is You who is waiting
with quiet anticipation
of something new.

Have mercy on us for our human ways.
Forgive our resistance to responsibility
and tendency to blame.

May Your waiting not be in vain.

RCL – Year C – First Sunday of Advent – November 29, 2015
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36

Photos from Pixabay. Used with permission.

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About Rachael Keefe

Rachael is an author, a pastor, a teacher, and a poet. Her latest book (The Lifesaving Church - Chalice Press) is on faith and suicide prevention. She is currently the pastor of Living Table UCC in Minneapolis, and has launched a spiritual direction practice.

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