Watch and Pray

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, v“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” Mark 14:32-42

Watch and Pray

We bow our heads over a simple
supper of BLTs the gorgeous tomatoes
round and red slices of God's gorgeous bounty
we laugh as we pack everything away
staring at the mounting clouds
stalking us on the horizon.

Our orders have come we must
take our leave, evacuate our home
get on the road moving away
from the eye of the storm.

The round ball of orange setting
rests on the water dipping winking
our anxious preparation quieted
the calm ocean ready to boil and roll
we can only watch and pray.

Tomorrow the journey promises stories
woven from shadow and rain, survivors
on the move to a temporary shelter
home will change in the wink of an eye.

We bid farewell for a time to the shoreline
our salty ocean air, the sand that finds us
everywhere, we walk from sea level aching
for the water, frightened of her power
always in awe.

We take one more look as we drive away
all we have left to do
is watch and pray.