Release Your Gifts

Sing for Me
Dance for Me
Preach for Me
—Pastor Abiot from Zimbabwe

the preacher wants you off the
street comer, don't loiter
God's waiting for you
to unwrap your gift
suppose it’s not what
you hoped for—
your voice jumps off notes
speaking in public
facing an audience
dancing barefoot,
in taps, ballet shoes
still flat-footed, stiff,
the preacher wants you
out of your seat, out of the
audience, he wants you
to find your gift,
maybe it’s to keep lighting a candle
cupping a hand around the flame
no one’s left out
someone’s staining a pew
someone’s adding salt to soup
someone’s setting a table
someone’s opening a door
someone’s telling a story
someone’s listening hard
someone’s nodding
someone’s tapping
someone’s praying
someone’s swaying
someone’s kneeling
the preacher wants you
to unwrap your gift