Evidence of Things Unseen

     Hebrews 11

New King James Version (NKJV)

By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained agood testimony.

Evidence of Things Unseen

Fluttering over the stone gray steps,

Haloed in stained glass light,

The church ladies,

wave goodbye.

As I break from their flock,

Reminders of Wednesday night Mass

And Bingo ring out;

They coo and huddle like pigeons.

I walk to my car

Full of Hail Marys

And appropriate remorse.

Fumbling for car keys

I hear his shuffling gait behind me

A brilliant map of veins

crosses his face.

His breath is stained

by stale cigarettes

and a binge.

The mace in my pocket

feels like a slick fist.

His fingers run

through his graying mop of hair.

He then holds out his hands

like a priest, giving benediction,

“He relieves all unnecessary pain.”

He waits for a response,

A patient confessor.

Safe inside the car,

locked doors, I look away.

I wait.

With something like shame

I open the door, thrusting some dollars

into his hands.

I race out of the church parking lot.

I look back.

He is smiling.

The bills fly out of his hands

Like doves.