longest night

longest night

shortest day

longest day and night

with no sighting of the sun at all

on this slate grey day

I can understand sun worship

when all the earth seems dead

will the sun ever return?

bring sun into the house

light candles and lanterns

bring life into the house

drape pine branches on tables

bring joy into the house

mull wine, eat lemon zested cake

make a long night into a celebration

of light, of life

on a node of turning

on a cusp of returning

on an axis of rebirthing

we welcome the light

millisecond by millisecond

so slowly that the sun almost seems to stand still

I hold my breath and count the extra minute of light

creeping toward longer days

shorter nights

and hope

god and me

I've always known god
as far back as I can remember

My conversations with god were open and affirming
I knew I was accepted
In fact I didn't really know
NOT being accepted until I started going to church

Church--there's the kicker
I looked for god in church
a few different churches

I listened for god in church
but the voice of the preacher got in the way

I looked for god in church
but the narrowness of the rules confused me

Fortunately I was so anchored in god
that church did not set my boat adrift

In time, I did find a church
to rent
not to call home
just room and board
a place to perch

And so I'm a minister
in a church
in a congregation

I love the luxury of talking with god
thinking about god
writing about god
creating with god
being with god-seeking people
and finding god in expected
and unexpected places.

Now, I've started another voyage
on internet seas
to listen for god

Let's see where we end up