A Story

I tried taking a nap today after a morning spent at the hospital.  It didn't work.  I was pulled to the out of doors.  

So I drove on empty.  Gambled with my tank.  And opened my windows like I was some fool starved of September's air.

(Longing)

I looked through my lens.  It's been a long time since I viewed the world in a box.  The horizon overbent the jetty.  The jetty kept captive sails and masts, all dropped and spent like the crunch my feet made over the first fallen leaves.

It's that time of year again.

Death will steal the trees soon.  But not until brilliant dawns unveil the worth of keeping the sun close.

(Foliage)

I would push the sun away, too, just to discover the beauty of life's last hour.  A time when all the world's finally come together.  When life has been life lived to the full.  When regrets are empty and all past hope is tangible.  When love finally finds her beloved: arms closed, wrapped round her.

(A-Still)

I tried walking around the world today.  I think it walked around me.  

Michael was outside Memorial Hall today.  Sitting with two other guys.  Old guys.  Said John's on the Cape.  Old man John's back in rehab, but I'm glad. At least he'll get a good shave there.  Some clean clothes maybe.  And the best part, he's got a home. Well, not a home like you and me got, but a place for him to rest his head at least.  Just for some September nights.  Away from the cold.

I took a picture of his bench today.  Old man John's bench.  Framed it with the two Churches behind him. But really, God is all that's behind him.  The Church failed that man.  But God's there.  God's with him.

(Bluesky)

I found a trashcan in a cemetery.  

I found trash on a grave.  

I found trash on the beach and watched the tide roll in.  Fascinating how even the waves cover what's not meant to be there.  But then even they make the same mistake as we do.  They litter again.  Pick it up when they come back in.  And forget it when they leave.

Oh! my apathy.  I didn't even take the stairs down to pick up that used cup.

(Waiting)

And you know, I sat and read my Bible.  It's the new thing I'm trying.  I want to read the whole Bible, you know?  Let's see how far I end up.

I noticed something cool during the first reading. So we're at this stage where God created the heavens and the earth.  Out of nothing might I add.  He brooded over this void before all time began.  Before you and me.  Before Michael homeless outside of Memorial Hall cursing some Father Bill and his practice.  Before all the trash.  When Creation was Creation without catharsis.  

Then in an instant God called it all to being.  I mean, the winds swirled.  The storms came.  The air cleared.  The calm came seven days later.  And here we are.

We are so far from these beginning steps.  And yet still so close to God.  You know, our closeness to the Divine will always be a mystery to me.  I have no clue how close our Heavenly Father is to us at any one moment, but I know He's intimate.

(Soclose)

And what I discovered today is His desire.  He desires for us to be with Him for all time to come. Whatever with the litter on the ground.  Whatever. Whatever with our cursing someone else's trying to help the good of humanity even if it means not letting an addict have his privacy because we all know our failings get the best of us when we're alone.  And whatever with all cathartic Creation. God sees past that and sees what He created:

You.

Me.

Love.

Life.

The birds.

Beasts.

Fish.

Mountains.

And the sea.

Then all the air between the heavens and the earth. In an instant quicker than we comprehend God can get rid of all that just to get with the one He loves. He sees past all the junk and still wants to spend eternity with us.

"You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

Look at what's left out.  There are two distinct trees mentioned in this Genesis account.  (1) The tree of life.  (2) And the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  God only tells us not to eat of one.  

Guess I'll be going after life then.  Not sure about you.