That Time of the Month
Todd Matson
they assemble the first tuesday
of every month from all over the
theological and political spectrum
to discuss concerns of
church and community
a hodgepodge of liberals
moderates and conservatives
priests and prophets
social activists and evangelicals
scholars and pseudo-scholars
veterans and novices
flamboyant and stoic
passionate and burned out
an ecumenical lot
if ever there was one
a diverse group
with little in common
except for a few core
theological propositions
except for the tightness
in their smiles
the straining and cracking
in their voices
the difficulty of maintaining
eye contact
the fidgeting of their fingers
the sweat on their palms
the pit in their stomachs
the lump in their throats
the nervous tension emanating
from their faces and extremities
as they watch the clock for dismissal
the obsession with giving
and never receiving
the lack of mutuality
the way their personas
quiver and falter under the light
for those who have eyes to see
there is nothing lonlier
than a pastor
except for
a room full of pastors
