Spirit and Truth

A poem written during the 2020 global pandemic
by William Consiglio

Seek not your God in buildings,
I heard him say to me –
where routine smothers spirit
and heart is absent, see!

A time will come, already here
I heard him say to me –
when neither mount Jerusalem
true worship will there be.

Then every soul a temple,
I heard him say to me –
where my own Spirit dwells,
in life abundantly.

Seek not your God in many
I heard him say to me –
but in your room, a silence where,
my Father there speaks free.

We worship what we know,
I heard him say to me –
the Father in the Spirit,
in Truth most tenderly.

Pandemics have a season,
I heard him say to me –
indeed it has a reason,
ordained most purposely.

I drew you from each other,
I heard him say to me –
that you might seek within,
to worship properly.

Abandon now your many gods,
I heard him say to me –
stand instead with lifted hearts
and minds sincerely.

I’m tired of your substitutes,
I heard him say to me –
your vacant voice and worthless words,
performed, repeated ritua’ly.

My Father seeks your spirit-hearts,
I heard him say to me –
My Father is a Spirit,
true worship, spiritually.

I therefore urge you brothers, sisters;
I heard him say to me –
offer yourself a living loss,
pleasing God wholly.

True and proper worship,
I heard him say to me –
transforms, renews your mind;
his perfect will you’ll see.

True worshipers I seek,
I heard him say to me –
like you who heed my words,
and love wholeheartedly.

Yes, come together people
I heard him say to me –
Come and care and love each other,
a new commandment be.

Top photo credit: African American man prayerfully reading Bible, from Bigstock.com, photo copyright: digitalskillet1, stock photo ID: 171156872