if

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep.
 John 11:32-35
- - - -

if only
you
were here, Lord:

you could mentor
schoolyard bullies
to treat others
with
respect and civility;

oppressors
would find you
listed on their daily
appointment sheet,
until they changed
their practices;

the poor
would see you
advocating for them from
your seat on
the city council;

you would visit
the homeless sleeping
under bridges and on sidewalk
grates,
taking them by the hand
to lead them to
shelters open
all hours, and soup
kitchens
serving three meals
a day;

if only . . .

. . . and you begin
to weep
whispering,
'i am here,
in you.'

© 2013 Thom M. Shuman