As If

"I just want what's

best for me."

he says, firmly convinced

 he has a clue

what that would be.

"My life is NOT going

according to plan!"

her bumper sticker proclaims,

as if an earthly sojourn

tailored by her desires

would be heavenly.

Joy is the journey

of those who, from

sheer exhaustion and failure

or contemplative acquiescence

it matters not which,

daily invite holy otherness

to rearrange the cargo

of their dreams and plans.

Theirs is a ship

whose ports are celebrated,

whose manifesto is shape-shifted

by grace into daily manna

as if the universe is powered

by unconditional love.

© 2012 Todd Jenkins