6.27.2005

Rush Hour Prayer

Dear Lord, Maker of Obstacles:

I need to get where I'm going.

I would have liked to get there sooner, but it appears that this is not Your will.

And yet, I cannot help but remember that You split the Red Sea --

How hard would it be to carve a lane between these crusts of metal

And move me toward my Promised Land?

Nonetheless,

I will take this unexpected bounty of time

To ponder Your creation.

I will peek into other cars

Visit the small universes

Of the other commuters

Send a wave of compassion their way

Hope to avoid the finger

The gun

The expletive

The curse on all my people

To swim up this stream again

Tomorrow.

--Mr. Gobley

1 comment:

Mr. Gobley said...

This is a great story. i'm reminded of a time, shortly after I got my driver's license, when I was driving an unwieldy parental wagon and accidentally cut of a motorcyclist.

He pulled up next to me at the light, smiled politely, and motioned for me to roll my window down.

"Hey," he said, "did you see me back there?" I thought the correct answer would be "yes" -- i didn't know I'd cut him off -- so i answered in the affirmative.

He made a motion as if to punch me. i think he was faking, but i'll never know, because i took off and never looked back. It was bad timing all right -- mine.