Sorry, Amos

What do these things have in common?
Chickens at home on the roost
Cows coming across the pasture toward home
A farmer reaping what he sowed.

Consequences.

Maybe if we sing the hymns louder
preach the sermons longer
form a new committee
commission a task force
hold a convention.

Maybe if we tried harder
prayed longer
I know! Let’s have a picnic
or a retreat or a rally.
We’ve got to do something!

Here’s an idea: Let’s read
Amos 5. Amos, the prophet?
Amos in the OId Testament?
That’s him! Obscure, grumpy
old Amos. Read it more than once.

Finally, come to grips with this
prophetic-biblical reality: It’s never
been about you or me. It has always
been about us. Social implications
ignored gets us to exactly where we are.

Sorry, Amos. We did it again.