Sabbath

For a number of months, I have felt like I need more space in my life—space to reflect and re-evaluate some things, space for rest, and space for God. As I prayed and thought about this, I felt directed to take a semi-sabbatical in April. Other than going to work and church, I am taking a break from most other activities.

Another aspect of this is prayer. Over the last 10 years, the Lord has drawn me into times of prayer more than any other season of my life. I hope to use this extra time in April to rest and pray.

In line with this, I have prepped blog posts for April ahead of time, and thought I would start with a poem entitled “Sabbath,” which appears in my second book, Event Horizon, and my cat chapbook, Cat Show.

Sabbath

This is what I would do—
if Mammon’s pointing shadow 
didn’t turn the world
into a sundial—

I would wake when I woke.
I would read in the morning shadows,
making room for a cat
between my blanketed knees.

I would get up when I got up.
I would sit and watch steam
curl into sparkling fronds
above the earth-shades of coffee.

I would be marooned.
I would set my bottled thoughts
adrift in the tides of quiet
all around.

Every day
would be a seventh day

and time’s hands 
would be pressed together
instead of running 
in circles.