I Watched the News Today…

I watched the news today

and wondered if God had gone to play

I saw the bully win

and asked God if he was out or in

I heard my neighbors scream

and wondered if God turned mean

I read about the starving child

and wondered why war waged wild

I saw a man die of AIDS

and asked God if he had gone away

Then on my knees I fell and wept

and God whispered into my depths…

I hear the hungry children weep

Go and feed them; be my feet

I know the bullied girls and boys

Go seek justice; be my voice

I see the sick across the land

Go and help them; be my hands

I listen to the poor one’s prayers

Go and answer; be my ears

Then to my feet I rose again,

rolled up my sleeves, dirtied my hands

~Annette L Garber, 2005 

Slow Down

Slow down, O Wearied Soul.
Slow down and rest awhile.
Breathe deep.  Breathe slow.
And don't forget to listen.

For though your ears hear many sounds,
your soul longs to listen to
the sounds of Silence.

And when you listen to the silence...
listen long, listen deeply...
for it is then when you will hear
the melodies of truth,
softly sung,
perhaps only whispered,
into your depths.

Slow down, O Wearied Soul.
Slow down long enough to listen
to the Silence.