Dry Bones

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The institution
     concerns itself with
     butts in the pews
          and
     dollars in the plate
And the Spirit is grieved
As people,
     people full of the
          breath of God,
     people made in the
          image of the divine,
have
     no water,
     no food,
     no homes,
     no mercy,
     no justice,
     no peace.
Dry bones,
     a lifeless representation
          of the Body
     it is called to be.
Can these dry bones
          live?
Only you know,
          Lord.
Fill us with
     breath.
Animate us with
     Spirit.
Recreate us in your
     image.
And the dry bones
     begin to
          rattle.
Sinew.
Tendons.
Muscle.
Flesh.
Breath.
Ruah.
Life.
Call.
Proclamation.
Good news
     to the poor;
release
     to the captives;
sight
     to the blind;
freedom
     to the oppressed;
favor
     to all.
And the dry bones
     begin to
          rattle.

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