They say we are a Christian Nation,
can you hear the Capital Letters,
denoting our Spiritual Heritage.
Do you know the Sacred River?
Blessings of rain,
embraced, gathered and infused by Earth.
Running liquid redemption, muddy water becomes sacramental wine ...
We don't have one of those,
and if we did
it would run straight into the bottling plant,
so that pilgrims could have it delivered to their homes
in convenient recyclable six packs.
Have you see the image of the Holy Mountain?
Rooted and rising,
crowned in majesty inspiring awe,
yet humble stairway, lifting us up.
We don't have one of those,
and if we did
we'd pay fifty dollars to ride to the top
belted into a tiny train
watching animatronic apostles sing us songs
as we glided past scale models of shiny cities
where no one has ever bled.
Have you ever heard of the Great Man?
Statesman, poet, healer.
Quotations from his breakfast conversations
have inspired entire generations to service and sacrifice.
Don't have one of those either.
And if we did
she would be a woman,
and the newspapers and talking heads would be overflowing
with our need to know
are her breasts real, and who is she sleeping with?
If our nation had a Soul
we'd trade it for some cotton candy and a broken cats-eye marble,
and then we'd lose the marble.
But in all this, I find comfort in the wisdom of the Creator.
For the Kingdom of God is a hidden country.
Vistas of sunrise
over sacred geography,
only revealed by acts of love.