temptation tests

Pentecost + 18 - Year A

ready for today’s test?
of course!
whether announced
or not
we all know
tests happen.

life isn’t hypocritical
promising rose gardens
then yanking the rug out
tests happen
and we take it
or complain

there is no out
from an unending stream
of temptations
none are final
all pop up
to burst certainty

we’ve made good choices
and again
and again and again
until we are certain
we are good
deciders

we are good
as good can be
god good
unquestioned good
second to none good
just good

good enough
to get a pass
on a next test
that is only
a breath away
whew

and so my pride
faces off
against your hypocrisy
what happened
to that pass
anyway

I’ll see your malice
and raise you
a great offense
question
response
impasse

and so they left
unchanged
and so
changed
they
return

here comes
another breath
another test
pass or fail
another
comes

leaving no option
don’t breathe
or
don’t anticipate
otherwise
well you know