Goodtime Jesus by James Tate

Jesus got up one day a little later than usual. He had been dream-
ing so deep there was nothing left in his head. What was it?
A nightmare, dead bodies walking all around him, eyes rolled
back, skin falling off. But he wasn't afraid of that. It was a beau-
tiful day. How 'bout some coffee? Don't mind if I do. Take a little
ride on my donkey, I love that donkey. Hell, I love everybody.

I hear America singing, by Walt Witman

I HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck; 5
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs. 10

70 or 80 years

Gotta see the irony in preaching Psalm 90 tomorrow and Pete's mother being in the hospital today. She's 80 years old and not in the best health. Psalm 90 contains the phrase, "we've been given 70 years, if we're lucky 80." And the hope of the psalmist is that we would learn how to number our days that we would gain a wise heart.

How do we number our days? How do we measure a year (as the song asks?)

I say relationships, I say love, I say risks, I say hard conversations, I say honest answers, I say every breath easily taken because of faith and hope. Count 'em up - that's living.