Again the Lord spoke to King
Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I
will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too
little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young
woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:10-14 NRSV)
X
Night of the Living Dead
for Jodi
The deer appeared and I lost my breath
the road black as slick obsidian
time stood still as the car grazed his legs the beams of
light
headed his way as he limped and then leapt to the side of the
road
and disappeared into the woods I assumed to
die
his soul gone to God in the blink of an eye as time stood
still
I held my breath all the way home thinking of the deer that
slept on the hood
of Uncle Jerry’s truck the year he turned nineteen dead
to the things of this world
I have never been much of a hunter more of a gatherer in many
ways
I still am not sure of what I was hunting that night but
several weeks later
the deer appeared to me in the dead of night very much
alive
his breath sweet as a baby’s scent from Heaven his eyes
heavy-lidded and
long tongue savoring the taste of my salt tears breathing
breathing breathing
forgiveness into me to convince me that God was watching all
the time
to say I am sorry and I love you best of all
Susan Miller
O God, you have prepared for those who
love you
such good things as surpass our
understanding:
Pour into our hearts such love towards
you,
that we, loving you in all things and
above all things,
may obtain your promises, which exceed
all that we can desire;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
