HP Rivers

Every Christmas Eve
For the rest of my career
I will preach about the year
I cried through the entire
Christmas Eve service.

Every lesson,
Every carol
Accompanied by quiet sobs
Who chose their sacred moment
To proclaim the truth
That set them free –
Grief takes no holidays.

Some Christmases
Are just sad ones,
And that’s ok –
You can cry
through the entire service.
Just don’t you dare
Leave
Until you feel less alone.

Blessed Be.

Dedicated with great love and reverence to my colleague the Rev. Arlen Goff, who didn’t let me leave until I felt less alone.