20. Keep Awake

"'But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.'" Mark 13: 32-37

*****

Sometimes we hear your word and it

wakes us up,

electrifies us.

Maybe you answer a prayer

with yes

or providence smiles on us

or you show up right when we need you

and we get goose bumps of recognition

that something bigger than us

is in control.

It's a mountain-top-moment

and we're infatuated with you and

we wake from our stupor to an alarm clock

blaring radiant love.

But you know how it is

after a while

we get used to the sound

of the alarm

or wonder if we could have been mistaken

or dreaming

after all

and we remember how tired we are and

how much easier it would be to stay in bed so

we sink back down.

We hit the snooze button

on all those things we said we'd do,

changes we'd make,

people we'd help,

promises we'd made

to you

in the moment

when you shook us from sleep

and anything was possible.

Yes, you're glad when we

wake up

but that's mostly your doing--

Your life's work.

But our life's work--and we'll spend our whole lives learning it--

is to keep awake

even when we have to strain to hear the alarm

sounding for love

and we're tired

and we barely remember how alive we felt

when last we were

awoken.