Still Rising

When you’ve reached the end of your patience for fires that rage like your heart, and will not be put out, but only keep whipping up winds, making everything so much harder to see Through the fog there persists this enduring struggle those who will not concede the possibility of resilience and re-birth Everyone here knows how it feels to want to throw up your hands in surrender and defeat But here we remind each other of roller coasters That invite us to that same motion - and the sweet thrill of risking release into joy Annie Dillard used to say Church should come with crash helmets Because here we know that life is not done with surprises and for this we come with praise, and thanks Like the phoenix, and the butterfly, And the Beloved Community still rising - let us be a part of this startling beauty. Come let us worship together