When God Calls

Since it happens so quietly
most days,
usually before dawn
or in the middle of the night
like labor starting
for the first time,

when God calls to us
sometimes it is better not to chatter,
but rather, to listen
like the enchanted bird
watcher with ebony
viewing glasses
on our bellies
waiting for a sighting
of something rare.

God's voice is subtle
like the color of slate
or the glimpse of a shadow-
unless you know
what you are looking for.

But once you hear it,
the tornado of truth
will not be stopped.
God will take hold of you
by the ears
and drag you to the front
of the classroom
looking for the answers
you've studied for
with all your heart
and with the strength
of  each of the bones
of your hands
and with the cage
of bone and muscle
that are your ribs--
that make you breathe
and capture
most of the sobs of joy
you cannot hold back.

The cacophony
of this bird song
that circles your soul
is like angels
delivering cake
to the starving
on platters
of gold.

It is the miracle
of this invitation,
to this banquet,
that we are all waiting
to open.

It is this voice
we cannot wait
to return to
for the sound
of a single
note.