While the gravy waits

I can't explain how faith sticks

So many folks keep making 
God unpalatable --
imagine waking to a morning
where birdsong tastes 
of discordant vinegar?
I've never stopped being 
Catholic (though I've tried).
I can't explain how
faith sticks, how belief
stays inside you,
hiding (maybe) but
beating unstoppable. 
While awful men draw
straight and narrow lines
between soft Jesus and 
hot ugly beasts 
in hateful armor.
No, I'm not Catholic, yet
I love nuns.
I crave midnight service.
I miss bell-ringing rituals
where magic enters sanctuary
invited in by men in dresses. 
Nature keeps pointing 
me to a creator.

I can't explain how 
faith sticks, how it
shouldn't (yet still does).
how, after years of 
collecting the ways
hate and exclusion work,
it transcends grace.
Muffled, shuffled 
sighs acquiesce to
a prayer's crumbs 
of goodness and light:
such familiar words.
Breaths suck in: 
parents siblings in-laws
recite the child's wish 
while the gravy waits.

April 8, 2024 is my sister, Kathy’s, birthday and my sister, Mary’s anniversary (24 years) to Jay. It was also the eclipse here in North America. 89.3% coverage looked very close to total, but still the world around me here in LSMO was quite well lit. “Will it get dark?” my daughter asked. “No", I texted back. “Only in totality.”

I considered writing about the sun today but by 5 p.m. But then, I figured most of you were fed up hearing about the sun! So today’s post was inspired by a show I heard on 1A today driving home from work. It was “‘If You Can Keep It’ ”: Donald Trump, White Evangelicals, and the 2024 Elections.”

Because I am sure no one is fed up on this topic. 🤣😂🤣 .