In Secret

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." (For not even his brothers believed in him.) Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come." After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, "Where is he?" And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, "He is a good man," others were saying, "No, he is deceiving the crowd." Yet no one would speak openly about him for fear of the Jews. John 7:1-13

In Secret

Sometimes the world's cruelty
makes us hide away to survive
misunderstood and discredited
we walk in the deep shadows
singing by moonlight only.

In this season we must lay low
hide the gifts and the music
stash away our capacity
the world is angry and jealous
and the rough streets are mean.

Some would kill that which they fear
destroy the delights and joy of others
repress and imprison the strange
bury the loved of God in shadow
and tell lies to the little children.

Some times are the festivals of Booths
dangerous and maligning leadership
afraid of losing control and power
afraid of goodness and healing
scared of sharing like little children.

In good time love conquers all
and God's goodness prevails against
evil men and women who would stifle love
Creation's beauty brings a new dawn.