Second Monday of Advent

"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth
distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son
of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things
begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption
is drawing near." (Luke 21 25-28)

divination

looking for signs
            in the entrails
          of the latest politician
              to be skewered,
                         we may miss
          the story
                 about
           the homeless fellow
       who pushed a
            family's car out of
                     the snow
          and accepted only
               a 'thank you'
             as his reward;

reading the handwriting
                    on the 'net
            regarding the cliff
                we lemmings
            seem to be running
                             toward,
        we overlook
               the kids lined up
                     at the tellers'
                     windows, emptying
            their piggy banks
                         for their teacher
         battling cancer;

convinced that the warnings
              of that disembodied
                                 radio voice
                  portend the end
                  of our sacred cows,
          we ignore the songs
                       composed in
               the bathtub
            by our grandchildren
                           as they celebrate
                  wonder of
                      the life they have.

© 2012 Thom M. Shuman

'Bearers of Grace and Justice', liturgies with communion for Lectionary Year C; 'Pirate Jesus', prayers and poems for Lectionary Year C, are available at Amazon.