Other Words for God

 

Getting up in the morning, when even this old world feels new

Before the hate preachers can open their mouths or even smirk

My feet are on the pavement, skin taking in morning air.

It is still safe, although the day’s heat can bring our hatred to a boiling point

My walk this morning involves a request, an admission and many thanks

            For peace, of guilt and for all the world, no exceptions.

The sunrise, another word for God.

The beautiful game on the telly inspires exuberance that launches a little  

            body off the couch.

There is nothing passive about his pursuits.  Watching a game involves live

            replays, exercise, drawings and costumes.

A staring game at bedtime between a father’s tired eyes and a boy’s

            busy eyes that have not yet taken everything in this day.

The game is interrupted by a kiss on his forehead which slows nothing     

            down, only adds an element to the play.

This connection to the boys exhausts me and fuels me at once,    

it is another word for God.

From her I learned the language for speaking to God.

I knew the words perhaps, just not how to feel them.

The words must be felt like the tears in your eyes,

            an ache in your heart, the blood in your mouth.

We go walking through the bible, hand in hand through the savage,

            graceful and loving parts to continue the story.

Laughter is our food and a quick comment or gesture from her

            makes this adventure worth it all.

Her love and laughter, other words for God.

The song says, ‘Go to the country and learn to know Jesus by yourself.’

Perhaps He can be known, even seen on your own.

The company of others is required for you to feel Him.

Life finds us in the pit at times, full of howling and darkness.

Reach out, that would be your church folk standing with you,

            shoulder to shoulder.

You will need to climb out when you are ready, until then, your community will bear it 

with you, even for you when it is required.

God, is more than a word, it is an experience.

We come into the world, exercising our voices, giving the world our light.

We feel the hands, arms, both strong and clumsy, which are tolerated, even loved.

Before the words are understood, we feel their welcome, their love and wonder

            and know it is for us.

We grow on the words, whispered in our ears: Go! Do it! Fly! And hear them echo          

            in our heads for all our lives.

Before we understand God as a noun, we feel God as a verb.

Mama, Dad, a child’s first words for God.