Sheep's choice

After Psalm 95

The sheep have a choice:

accept who they are,

crowd around the shepherd,

heed the shepherd’s voice.

Or

Do what’s always been done

(Meribah),

ignore what’s in front of their nose

(Massah),

begrudge the blessings

(manna),

Test, or vex, or both, the shepherd

(12 spies),

Reject the promise,

Reap the wilderness,

Find no rest.

That’s the choice.

Photograph by Sam Carter via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Hands

After Psalm 95

Lifted: our hands wave,

His hand wraps the earth.

Lifted: our hands applaud,

His hands shape mountains.

Lifted: our hands clasp together,

His hands scoop the seas.

Lifted: our hands stretch upward,

His hands sculpt the land.

Lifted: our hands reach.

His hands touch.

Lifted: Our hands fold in prayer,

His hands wrap ours.

Photograph by Akira Hojo via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Cymbals, drums, hands

After Psalm 95

It is the noise we hear

first, a joyful noise,

punctuated with cymbals,

drums, hands, and other

instruments of worship,

orchestrated together as

an act, a declaration, 

a hymn of thanksgiving,

a hymn of profound praise,

as entrance is gained

to the presence, an instance

of celebration, an eruption

of celebration, unlike

what has been known, like

what will be known

forevermore.

Photograph by Anthony Delanoix via Unsplash. Used with permission.