If Your Presence Does Not Go With Us

“If your Presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”

Exodus 33: 15

Not emotional keys at meeting’s end,

nor goosebumps or in liturgical gems.

  Not prayer-line moment or anointing of man,

nor earthly blessing, you understand.

Not Royal connection, Prime Minister or King;

nor celebrity favour or Green Room bling.

Not springtime harvest or repartee,

nor polished reference or identity.

Not youthful history of ‘former days when’,

nor notions of God when, ‘He was then’.

Not blessings of lineage, family or kin,

nor current communities of brethren.

Not husband or wife or ‘bestest of friends’,

for permanence trumps parable and covenant extends.

Lion becomes Lamb and Lion again,

triumphant, surrendered, victoriously slain.

The greatest of all of our company,

a Presence divine, primarily.

Formless adopting Saviour of mine,

Beginning and End and Owner of time.

Blatant like pillars of fire at night,

Stalwart by columns of sheltering might.

“If Your Presence is not with us sure to remain,

do not send us from here crippled and lame.”

“Oh, Child, once and for all I have said,

‘My Presence will go, your life will be led’.

Nick Franks