Good Works - Nov 22 2022

 

Good Works

Nov 22 2022

The Sunday sermon rambled.

The choir

was short a soprano.

Outside, there was fresh winter air;

but in the pews, it was hot,

smelled of candle wax and mildew

and wet wool socks.

He had only large bills,

so when time came for the offering

and the collection plate was passed

what could be more natural

than making change?

But there were disapproving glances,

a matron's hectoring cough,

and a hard corrective jab

from his wife's sharp elbow.

He was a non-believer

who would have rather slept-in.

But charity

is also good for atheists,

and agnostics

while kind of wishy-washy

still feel blessed to give.

Next time, all 20 dollars in

he promised himself,

shamed into making amends

and counting on Christian forgiveness.

The sermon mercifully ended,

and the lucky few

who'd slept through it

managed to rouse themselves,

miraculously resurrected

for coffee and cake.

He knew all about sin

including the 7 deadly ones.

But couldn't help a twinge of envy

listening to their snores;

the soul restoring sleep

of the faithful born-again.