kneelers

sometimes
God
i feel like we should

only sing
to

a few

at a time

over coffee on an open mic
or no mic at all
just human voice through the air

or in a small chapel
with kneelers

kneelers

knees to floor

in a posture of dependency
speaking, singing,
whispering
one stumbling child
to another

knowing that
You are
closer than the air
and
we
are all
in the same aching need of You 

and that
none of us
can be anything of use
to this gasping world

until You breathe on us
calm our souls with Your touch
and lift our weary bodies up to serve 

and then 

maybe

just maybe

we might be able to pull somebody

to safety

and maybe

just maybe

it will be

me

focus

multitasking is dangerous.  

it's not efficient;  

it's doing everything a little bit worse. 

a LOT worse.

it's putting others in harm's way, and I am the harm.

to be fully present as I walk through the world is not a trendy luxury.

it's discipline.  

it's survival.

it's protecting others against the careless version of myself.

it's got to stop.

the mindlessness

the carelessness

the shoddy and the shabby

the kneejerk 

preoccupied

asleep-at-the-switch thing.

life is a practice

not a reactive flailing headlong plow through the world with one headlight out

we each are given our body space on the planet

and a measure of free will 

and the risk to others 

that accompanies such a gift.

and what is asked in return…

before love

before accomplishment

before art

before anything…

is Focus.