TFL Poetry | Advent Week 1 – Today’s Responsibility

Scripture:
Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. – Numbers 3:38

Poem:

Struggling to fall asleep,

I wrestle with tomorrow.

How will the people respond?

Will everyone cooperate?

Bone-weary from the enormous task

That will greet me in the morning,

I must surrender

To the need for rest.

The rays of the morning

Slip under the flaps of the tent

To touch my eyelids

And welcome me to the new day.

The gentle sway of the curtain

Brings in dew-kissed morning air,

But my mind already wrestles

With the burden I must carry.

My muscles protest

As I rise to respond.

I step through the opening

Into the divine greeting

Of the Creator’s goodness.

I stand in awe of it all–

As our God feeds us

With his faithfulness.

My feet feel the earth

As my face soaks in

The gift of sunlight.

The pressure of

Today’s responsibility

Sets up camp against me

Announcing its threat to my peace.

My God is with me.

I will breathe the next breath.

I will take one step forward.

~ Esther Huhn, Today’s Responsibility