Back on the Ground

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met Jesus. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.”
John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.” Luke 9:37-50 

Back on the Ground

Here we are down from the mountain
our feet are planted on solid ground
the work never stops the need so many
I ache to be caught back up in the clouds.

Moments ago everything seemed clear
now everything is confusion and failure
there seems no end to the demons around us
we are up to our elbows and more to be done.

The people have come from miles around
they barely let us take a seat or greet family
right to work with no respite or refreshment
just labor in the kingdom where love abides.

No matter how much I ache to climb back
the work is here among the starving the suffering
the small children tormented and ashamed
among the prisoners, the widows and the insane.

God is here with us in these marginal places
there are no headlines nor any fame for us
God lives in the solid ground brokenness of our world
and dances in the rain with the dirty feet of a laborer.