sing, laugh, cry

i sing because i am too small

  to contain what i feel

i laugh because the joke is on humanity

i cry because the joke is not funny

i sing because i live with deep joy

i laugh because my loves needs to believe

   i am well

i cry when they discover i am human

i sing because i am part

  of a great vastness

i laugh to cover my inadequacy

  and pray for compassion

  and forgiveness

i cry when i cannot do what i see needs

  to be done

i sing because i am only part

  of the universe

nielsen

john nielsen hunches over the piano keys, caresses a single note, sways

with its reverberations, lifts and allows

each hand to find the music message to bring forth and share

with our congregation with tinkling patterns, runs, bursts

of loud and soft, healing and stirring joy so deep within it fosters memories

of moments of peace with beloveds now long gone from us

sermon without words