red shoes of power

he wears
red shoes
by prada

and this week
he tromped into the manger
not for the purpose of
beholding
the wonder and depth
and width
of GOD'S
love

but instead to
utter definition
as to how
GOD'S love
can and cannot
be expressed and experienced

instead of listening
worshiping
or offering a gift

he spoke
critiqued
and condemned

pointing
his finger

not at the star in the sky
or GOD in the manger
but at 
gays

i suppose this comes
with the perceived 
power of the pope

as i wonder 
and wander
i don't recall 
GOD 
pointing fingers at the ones 
who came to behold 
the good news

low class 
shepherds 
who had to be as smelly as that 
animal stall 
where 
mary and joseph 
and the divine one huddled 

and later 
wise ones
from far off lands
with GOD only knows 
what kind of traditions
thinking
or culture

they came
they walked into the presence 
of 
GOD 
EMMANUEL 
not to pontificate
but to receive 
and to behold

this is
what this season is about

receiving 
and
beholding

take off your 
shoes of power
and kneel down
to
receive 
and behold

do what the lowly shepherds did
do what the foreign royalty did

take off your
shoes
and allow 
the beauty of 
the silent night
to heal
and make whole

 
take off your shoes
and kneel 

take off your shoes and 
let the silence of the night speak