Sacred Stones

The firm foundation beneath our feet
Comprised of common rocks and concrete
From little stones tossed, thrown or placed
After a Little Falls night made us deliberate

Beckoned, we were, to consider,
Question, ruminate, remember
What are we here for, and what do we want
And why is this parish our quarters?

On those stones, we scribbled our prayers,
Expressed our concerns, delivered our fears
To God and angels of which we are unaware,
Acknowledged the common as sacred

And so it is and that is how
Simple simple rocks beneath us now
Raise their voices loud and cry out,
To tell of lives born again somehow

Restored by the love of our Father
Made new by the joy of our Brother
And saints now filled by the Spirit
Gather here to receive the Eucharist

***     ***     ***

So, what were our prayers?
And what were our stories?
Our heart's desires?
And all of our worries?

Truthfully, we can't recall
At least not with clarity
The cluttered mind is full
An object of turbidity

But those prayer stones
Became sacramental
Markers, priceless gems,
Tokens of gratitude,
And symbols of joy,
Emblems of sorrow,
Keepsakes of brokenness,
Stamps on life's passport,
Precious milestones
For all of us pilgrims with
Lives of shattered pieces
But hopeful hands held open,
Outstretched for grace
After we've stumbled and fallen
On our daedal journey to God

This, then, is our place of confession
Where we state the open admission
Our hope for complete restoration
That all things will be made new

The firm foundation beneath our feet
With the cornerstone of Christ, complete,
And our voices in unison worship
Our wonderful Father in love.