losing the Son of God

Today is the feast of St. Joseph, and this morning I was listening to an online meditation based on the story of Mary and Joseph having to go back to Jerusalem to find the missing 12-year-old Jesus. And the speaker asked us to consider us consider how Joseph felt in that situation.

Suddenly, I could just imagine the panic: "OH NO! I've lost the Son of God. Now, what am I going to do? How is God going to punish me for this mess-up?"

But of course, God had the situation covered all the time.

The thought made me laugh, and it also made me wonder whether a lot of my panic isn't just as silly. It's food for thought, isn't it?

King Robin

In early March,

three robins perch on

my backyard aspen,

their rusty breasts

afire in the setting sun,

and their piping birdcalls

sound a note of challenge

as they hop from branch to branch

jockeying for dominance.