smaller god
by Jody Stowell
(crowning: mary giving birth to jesus - sara star)
gentle Jesus, meek and mild
who is this one, who is this child?
I do not know him, he did not come
in muck and mess
in rend of womb
little lord Jesus, no crying he makes
but the one I know, he weeps and wakes
he walks the world, and knows the real
he risks it all
to touch, to feel
good man Jesus, guru and teacher
yes, and yes, but not simply a creature
the one who knows me, holds the universe
thought it, spoke it
showed up in it...
no far away god
no disinterested maker
no grand chessmaster
who leaves us 'for later'
please don't show up at my door
and offer me less
than the one who creates me
then steps into the mess
don't offer me a man who was exceptionally good
or a god in the sky in a benevolent mood
don't offer me less than the one who is one
with the stuff of my life
when all's 'said and done'
who knows what it is to feel fury and grief
and love, pain, and anger
and joy, and peace
Jody is a Curate at All Saints’ Harrow Weald. She’s also a team member of Y2WB and is on National Committee of WATCH. jodystowell.com