Give to God

When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.
So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?” They said, “The emperor’s.” He said to them, “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent. Luke 20:19-26

Give to God

Ah this broken body
fearful and wondrous
anointed as a small child
marked with oil and water.

I do not remember  my baptism
but every dive in moving water
reminds me of the indelible mark
I am God's own forever.

Made in the image of the Creator
terrible and wonderful are we
we belong, one family, many colors
to an incredible, expressive God.

We cannot help but turn ourselves
over to the loving arms of God
who formed us in our mother
made us able to see the heavens.

We cannot help but turn to God
in our pain and sorrow and grief
bent over with the weight of living
sleepless with the agony of loss.

Render to God the life given
Caesar may have his head in coin
but we know that eternal value
has been placed upon our heads.