Sacristans Wanted: Inquire Within

a poem about keeping

I went to church on Sunday
heard a sermon that stirred me
music that moved me
prayers that pulled me closer to the holy
and it was an unexpected blessing that keeps me
that will not let me go

near the end of the service they called him forward
a man who has for years tenderly tended to the sacristy
the little room behind the platform
like a pantry for all things holy
keeping it clean, stocked, organized
keeping track of the supplies
ordering more when quantities run low

they thanked him and honored him
and named him the official sacristan
and then we all joined in to bless him
as the keeper of holy things

and that moment keeps coming back to me

what if we all accepted this position
and applied it to our daily living
like we ask for daily bread
holding all things as holy
keeping all things wholly sacred

keeping ourselves, our enemies, our friends
as beloved

keeping our dreams and our fears
our laughter and our tears
our bodies and our beings
as the beauty the creator created

keeping confident and proud when those loud voices
come to tell us we were born sinfully bad
needing to sacrifice our flesh to keep our spirits pure

keeping focus on the places torn by war and violence
on the people dying before our collective eyes
the ones they tell us are expendable, damaged collateral

keeping sight on the powerful and power
those working to maintain it and secure it
and limit who has access to it

keeping attentive to the earth
to the places where it’s burning faster than it’s turning
where governments are keeping watch over borders by night and by day
where sheep are slaughtered and little lambs not allowed to play

keeping love like watches keep time
like lovers keep time in a bottle
like truckers keep a foot on the throttle

keeping grace like grandmas keep trinkets
like little kids keep secrets
like we keep keepsakes in the junk drawer

keeping peace like the light we keep on
and all the things we keep not knowing what we’re keeping them for

keeping faith like we keep spare change in a jar on the counter
like we keep memories in our hearts
like we keep water buckets in our flower gardens
like we keep vigil as dear ones pass on and pass over

keeping joy like we keep hope alive
like we keep stories in our minds
like we keep watching old movies over and over

keeping sacraments just long enough to bless and release them
keeping rituals just tight enough to loose them

keeping the shelves just full enough to feed them
all the hungry people in the world

keeping forgiveness and liberation instead of rules and tradition
keeping gospels of good news not books of law and discipline
keeping imagination sharp and active like a box of two-edged colored pencils
keeping scripture and mystery as guides and stencils

keeping altars and forests clutter free
keeping baptismal fonts and rivers flowing
clear of blocks and debris

keeping open to miracles, possibilities, invitations
to the ways the holy is calling
to the signs all around us
saying, sacristans wanted

o, the blessings we could be when we all agree
to be keepers
keeping all things
holy

Waterfully Yours, Rebecca
& 10 Camels

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