“Making the House Ready for the Lord” An Advent Quiet Day
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’
~Isaiah 40:3
Making the House Ready for the Lord by Mary Oliver
Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but
still nothing is as shining as it should be
for you. Under the sink, for example, is an
uproar of mice - it is the season of their many children. What shall I do?
And under the eaves and through the walls the squirrels
have gnawed their ragged entrances - but it is the season when they need shelter, so what shall I do?
And the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard.
With the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow:
What shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling
in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly
up the path to the door. And still I believe you will Come, Lord: you will when I speak to the fox, the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.