Benediction

This is a piece of flash poetry that came while I was participating in a church service led by some friends, and which became our benediction.  

life comes like a freight train
filled with demands, tasks,
projects, and various life-and-death concerns
even if we kill the engine
the train keeps a-rollin’
screaming down the tracks
threatening to come off the rails
on the verge of disaster

and back in the caboose
where the sound dissipates
clatter of rails keeping rhythm
a quiet man
gracefully pours me some tea
and smiles gently
and says,

“relax.  you have already attained it.”

I take a breath
sip the tea
stare into the cup
and notice how much smoother
the train seems to run

I raise my cup to the man
who says,

“go in grace; go in peace.”