tribulation

I sat in church this morning

and a pastor read

rejoice in hope,

be patient in tribulation,

be constant in prayer

and he said maybe our lives were hard right now

maybe marriage, maybe money

you know, all the tribulations.

Suddenly I couldn't even check

the hot tears pouring down 

my cheeks.

tribulations?

sitting in my chair

in the dark and neon

the air too thick to breathe

like the air catching 

last breaths of growing hundreds

under homes 

buried alive.

with no government,

said a news report today,

continued instability,

gangs,

hunger,

no infrastructure,

they need,

basically...well. 

everything.

We are tired,

writes a friend

of being resilient.

tired of enduring,

and what for?

but enduring for more 

suffering

I got it together for the sermon

but as soon as the worship band 

started in with

I can see the light in the darkness

As the darkness bows to him

I can hear the roar in the heavens

As the space between wears thin

I can feel the ground shake beneath us

As the prison walls cave in

tears were dripping down my dress

as I prayed that in the fire, 

He would be there.

that those who are dying

even now

would Jesus hold their hand

those who are hungry

would they be hungry with Jesus

There is no other name

But the name that is Jesus

He who was and still is

And will be through it all

So come what may in the space between

All the things unseen

And this reckoning

I know I will never be alone

There'll be another in the fire

Standing next to me

prove to me

again and again

O Lord

that what I have 

hung my hopes upon

is near and real enough

to cradle and shelter me

against the raging of all storms

prove to me 

again and again 

that the Christ in whom

I have placed my trust--

for today, 

and for eternity,

is worthy of all trust.

In your presence, Jesus,

may I find a peace

that runs deeper than all fear

a holy and eternal comfort

that rewrites all distress

McKelvey