Sighing Deeply

 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.


 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” Mark 8:11-21


Sighing Deeply

I held my breath for so long
waiting for bad news became
an exercise,  a practice
and a way of life.

The trees are budding
the sun is softly  radiant
the promise of a garden
is in the earth itself.

Many are expecting calamity
it is hard to hear the bird song
new life breaking forth
cold stone giving birth.

Some will wallow in fear
but I choose to rejoice
the signs have been given
and we had been fully fed.

So let us not make God sigh
but rather take the hint
breathing in the possibility
of being set free all over again.