Independence Day Manifesto

The stakes are too great-
an America gone mad with materialism, 
a police-state America, 
a sexless and soulless America 
prepared to battle the world 
in defense of a false image of its authority. 

Not the wild and beautiful America
of the comrades of Walt Whitman, 
not the historic America 
of William Blake and Henry David Thoreau 
where the spiritual independence of each individual was an America, 
a universe, 
more huge and awesome than 
all the abstract bureaucracies and authoritative officialdoms 
of the world combined.

Only those who have entered the world of spirit 
know what a vast laugh there is 
in the illusory appearance of worldly authority. 
And all men at one time or other enter that Spirit, 
whether in life or death.

How many hypocrites are there in America? 
How many trembling lambs, fearful of discovery? 
What authority have we set up over ourselves, 
that we are not as we are? 
Who shall prohibit an art from being published to the world? 
What conspirators have power to determine our mode of consciousness, 
our sexual enjoyments, our different labors and our loves? 
What fiends determine our wars?

When will we discover an America
that will not deny its own God? 
Who takes up 
arms, money, police, and a million hands 
to murder the consciousness of God? 

Who spits in the beautiful face of poetry 
which sings of the glory of God 
and weeps in the dust of the world?

Alan Ginsberg, 2000

Amber Alert

Luke 2:41-51 / Psalm 44:23-24

Sometimes the Church

Sometimes the World

are like the Psalmist.

When some tragedy occurs

they ask the Other,

"Where were You?"

And when we discern

the response

 is the same 

as what

Mary and Joseph heard,

“I AM where I AM 

supposed to be.” 

So,

the quandary arises: 

Do we

like Mary place

the answer in our hearts

or silently wonder 

as Joseph:

“What is Your

Father’s business?”

The Impossible Takes a Little Longer

Matthew 17:17-20

We hear the words,

and wonder

if Jesus is

exaggerating

to make His point.

And afterwards

we browse

the bulletin board

of the world

and read of 

a saint

who 

makes us

wonder

if we have

any faith

at all.

(h/t Naked Pastor)

The Other Guy

Luke 7:36-50

On the TV

Jesus said to Peter,

"I've come to bring you new life."

And Peter replied,

"Who says I need one?"

And we 

who drag

our baggage

around

each day, 

hear the gospel warning:

"forgiven little

loves little"

and think 

He is talking 

to someone else.

867-5309

The President said,

“All we are doing

is making a log  

of your 

phone calls.”

And all of us 

terrorists

breathed

 a sigh

of relief.

We’re glad 

our cover

hasn't been blown,

as we

 gossip 

about some poor soul.

Talk to our mistresses

and tell the beloved

you have to

 work late tonight.

Get a hot stock tip

from your brother-in-law

at Goldmans.

Thank God

that

our freedoms

and privacy

are not being harmed.

While the 

recording angels

scribble frantically 

in the 

Book of Life.

Christian President

"I wish we had a Christian President,"

she said.

"Yes," I replied.

"Imagine weapons 

turned into

ploughshares.

Our debts

cancelled

for a fresh start.

The blind 

lame and

sick

won't worry 

about

pre-existing conditions.

And a new beginning

of the last 

becoming

 first."

"No, no, no," she said.

"All I meant,

 he would go to church every 

Sunday."