His Body

“Don’t be afraid” is the word
the Almighty brings

and also,
“Fear the Lord.”

“Find rest,”
He says,
“My burden is light,”

and also,
“Work as unto God.”

And we, His body,
we push and we pull
as in some cosmic tug-of-war
between the head
and the heart.

We forget that His body has two legs.

He is the head,
He is the heart,
we are the walking members.

We forget that His body has two arms.

And we, His body,
we reach and return
as in some cosmic arabesque
outstretching the head
and the heart.

“Be still,”
He says,
“Know I am God.”

and also,
“Go into all the world.”

“Be one”
is the word the Almighty brings

and also,
“I have many parts.”

Galaxy Souls

 Some people feel small when they look at the stars.

That hasn’t been my experience.

I feel like I’m a part of something, something big, something glorious. I feel connected to a purpose outside myself.

I would like more of that. I’d like to look at the stars and ponder what they mean.
What truth can we know from these rocks ablaze flung recklessly through eternity, and the way they spark wonder in our sparkling souls?
Are we a galaxy, composed of a billion tiny particles
all glowing in scattered unity?
And is that true of our bodies?

I would like to be part of a galaxy. I’d like to be right in the milky way, snug next to the most glowing warm bodies, all humming in silence together. To be part of something reverent, something sacred and profound.

In my mind’s eye I saw a crowd rising to their feet to applaud the galaxies. Well done - you’ve done it! You’ve played your part perfectly in the symphony of time. You’ve taken our breath away and reminded us of what it means to be so big, and so small, and a part of something sacred. You’ve sparkled in the massive depth of everything,
and you’ve sparked wonder in our solar system souls.