#Living Psalm 29_Mankin, January 7, First Sunday in Epiphany

Is this our gentle, loving God -
this whipping of flames,
this never-ending storm?
Is this the God we prayed to as children,
a bellowing voice in the wilderness,
an earth-shaker who rends trees up
from the roots and casts them down in fury?

Is this the God of our ancestors,
the bringer of Jesus in young Mary’s womb, protector of sheep and widows?
A guide for the magi? That burning bush?
The voice that demanded a father 
sacrifice his child, the spirit that danced
in Elizabeth’s womb?

Is this the God who will hear us
begging for peace, who will spare
children from the thousand cuts
that come in battle, that flay them
whether they live or die? 

Is this where our prayers should go?
Not to the God who walks beside us
in open fields at dawn, who blesses
parents at midnight when the front door slams and children return, 
who descends as a dove or olive branch
or rainbow - not that face of God. No.

We need this furious, bellowing God 
to ring in this new year, to turn up
the Christ light in each of us, 
that we may answer the prayers 
echoing around us: let there be peace.
Let there be peace.
Let there be love and joy 
and deeply abiding peace 
ignited in our souls.