a lenten blessing for palm sunday

O God, why do the days feel so short
and the minutes so long?

Oh God take hold of time,
and order it once again.

God have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Spirit have mercy.

On this palm sunday,
time is marked
as one small donkey
plods toward Jerusalem,

And one with a face set like flint
walks forward
toward the eastering of all sorrow

—not in the power of horses
and swift victory,

but in small steps.

Blessed are all those
walking forward
into the great small work they do
in hospitals, homes, grocery stores,
and trucking companies.

And blessed are we
joining the crowds
waving palm branches
to shout ourselves hoarse:
“hosanna! save us! save our world.”

Blessed are those
who have learned to walk in the light
of your presence.
Psalm 89:15

God have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Spirit have mercy.

Sit still. Wait.
Until the deep sigh comes,
and the next step is possible.