The Visitor's Psalm


I’m sorry, I’m sorry

please excuse me

I made a mistake

in coming today

if it’s OK with you

I’ll just slip out quietly

and not bother you again

I don’t know what possessed me

to come today at all

I just knew I had to

I thought just maybe

I might meet God today

and I need that

I need that

I couldn’t stay home

but now that I’m here …

I could stay, perhaps

if you make a space for me

and hold me in silence

Can I enter the place

where God might be?

Can I warm my cold heart

by the fire?

I know you don’t know me

but maybe God does

and maybe my worries

could find a new shape

and maybe some stillness

might wash into

the hole that gapes inside


Um, sorry to bother you, God

but, well, you got me here …

now what?


and then a child smiled at me

and gave me a chocolate

and a card that said

“You are welcome.” 


Maybe I will stay

wait and see

what happens next.