Class Warfare

His first day of life began not so well
When his inherited stock in IBM fell.
By the age of three his life was a mystery
At Harvard would he study business or history?
Business it was and boy were his parents proud
When he graduated with honors, magna cum laud.
He began his career with great pomp and promise
His first job was to fire Susan, Frank and Thomas.
He was grateful each one of them left without a fight
Although they’re over 50, they’ll find new jobs, right?
Everyday after work he passed the same homeless man
He avoided eye contact and never dropped a dime into his can.
He voted for those who kept his taxes low with every maneuver
The party of Harding and Coolidge and Herbert Hoover.
He believed that Jesus died for his life as a sinner
An easy belief where at least every Christian was a winner.

Then on the evening news he saw an image giving him pause
A child starving in Africa: Was he part of the cause?
For the first time in his life he felt something deep in his heart
Something called compassion and it tore his world apart.
He sold all his possessions and gave the money to the poor
He worked tirelessly to end poverty, so the poor would be no more.
He no longer believed that only Christians would be saved
That all others were somehow morally depraved.
He stopped going to the club and his church membership ended
The politicians he used to vote for he no longer defended.
He supported other politicians and found a new house of prayer
A spiritual place where they welcome everyone there.
Some thought he was crazy, half out of his mind
Giving up his privileged life, leaving his riches behind.
But he felt he was right, as if called from above
To seek a world filled with justice, peace and love.

We Give Thanks For Poetry

Let us lift up our thoughts and prayers.
All that is holy, loving and true:
We give thanks for poetry,
for words that convey meaning and feeling.
We give thanks for poetry,
and for poems that don’t always rhyme.
We give thanks for poetry,
and for poets, like Robert Frost, Emily Dickenson and Maya Angelou.
We give thanks for poetry,
and for people who appreciate poetry.
We give thanks for poetry,
that helps us to see and understand.
Now and forevermore:
Let it be. So be it. And: Amen.

We Give Thanks For Blueberries

Let us lift up our thoughts and prayers.
All that is holy, loving and true:
We give thanks for blueberries,
which are now in season.
We give thanks for blueberries,
which are abundant and cheap.
We give thanks for blueberries,
which we hope are brought to market by well-compensated workers, farmers and others.
We give thanks for blueberries,
which are so darn plump, juicy and delicious.
We give thanks for blueberries,
which either prove the existence of a gracious God or prove the existence of an exquisite evolution.
Now and forevermore:
Let it be. So be it. And: Amen.

We Give Thanks For America

Let us lift up our thoughts and prayers.
All that is holy, loving and true:
We give thanks for America,
at least for the America that supports the poor.
We give thanks for America,
at least for the America that supports a strong middle class.
We give thanks for America,
at least for the America that supports the super rich and big corporations paying their fair share of taxes.
We give thanks for America,
at least for the America that supports protecting the environment.
We give thanks for America,
at least for the America that supports public education.
We give thanks for America,
at least for the America that supports equal rights for all.
We give thanks for America,
at least for the America that supports peace all around the world.
Now and forevermore:
Let it be. So be it. And: Amen.