are you prepared for off? Copyright © Victor Weston 2011

I woke with a start, in the middle of the night
I did not know the hour - except it was dark
and light was flooding in illuming
the bedroom ceiling, I had not drawn the curtains
There was no sound

I cautiously crept from my bed
to the window to see a car, stationary
headlamps on full-beam facing
the neighbours must have seen me as these were then dipped
Where were they going?

with unexpected arrivals and departures
that of the ultimate Visitor requires particular respect
would it be such a reversal of our expectations to be living
ready to go, at any time
in any sense are we prepared?

At the end of mass the church was full
of light not created or artificial
the people had been meeting and greeting the One who comes;
In the middle of our nights will we awake, get up and go
with Him for whom our souls wait

our world is full of complacency and compliance
yet constantly changing
e=mc2 is no longer a certainty
no longer do we think as in a secular universe
but rather reach out for the ultimate Reality to which we are accountable