Second Sunday of Advent

Please read Malachi 3:1-4

was it a

desire

to change my

stumbling ways

that made me mumble

'yes'

all those years ago,

or was it more

dread

of ending up in

that-place-that-must-not-be-named?

was it a

longing

to learn a language

so many others spoke so well

(peace, grace, love flowing so

easily off their lives)

or was it that

left-over taste of soap

in my mouth from

using the wrong words?

all down the ages,

from sinners to sages,

with boys and girls,

in grannies and gramps,

was it fear that led them

to confess you

or true love?

come,

Refiner's Fire,

come

with your cool breath

of hope.

(c) 2009 Thom M. Shuman