Accidents of Birth

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 CLASSIC POEM: Without this– there is nought Emily Dickinson Without this—there is nought— All other Riches be As is the Twitter of a Bird— Heard opposite the Sea— I could not care—to gain A lesser than the Whole— For did not this include themself— As Seams—include the Ball? I wished a way might be My Heart to subdivide— ‘Twould magnify—the Gratitude— And not reduce—the Gold— *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Accidents of Birth William Meredith SNIPPET: Spared by a car or airplane crash or cured of malignancy, people look around with new eyes at a newly praiseworthy world, blinking eyes like these. … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]