Turn away, O God,
lest you see our follies and vanities,
our violences and indifferences.
Walk away from us apace,
keep your distance,
only then will your footsteps
create a path for us to follow after you
— a faint hint of bent grass through the field,
a winding deer trail across the mountains,
the clearing of brush by your walking stick,
or perhaps the whisper of stars singing
where you have winged across galaxies.
Leave us, O God,
so we might follow you
and find a blessing.
on Joel 2:14