Rarely

Wow.  I left parish ministry in 2007.  It took quite awhile to figure out what priesthood might now look like in the human container that is me.  I gave up things.  I took on new things.  Now I know I can still preach. Still... it seems I am to speak in other ways... more.

So rarely are things

Resolved so quickly.

I preached on Sunday,

Four services

In a row.

So rarely

Are things

Resolved so quickly.

I preached

What felt right

To preach.

I even sang a little.

So rarely are things

Resolved

So quickly.

I got the range of responses

I remember

From before.

So rarely

Does resolution come

So quickly.

I know I can do it.

I know the words will come.

I know I can preach

In my street clothes

In my church clothes

Follow the gospel procession

Back to the pulpit

From the pew.

It is rarely

This quick

Or simple.

But now I know

This is most probably

Not the place

I need to stand

And speak.

Rarely

Rarely

Does it come this easy.

Still

I have prepared my whole life

For exactly

This place.