Lenten reflection on scripture — fig tree by the side of the road

(Mark 11:12-14;20-25)

It is not the season —
for my child to survive cancer,
for my job to be daily joy,
to my marriage to be tasty
and full of seeds.

It is not the season —
for my father to remember
my name,
for my church to grow,
my seminary debt to vanish,
my jeans to zip,
my cataracts to be ripe,
my fifteen-year-old’s love
to be retuned,
my car to pass inspection,
my friend to emerge
from her depression.

I am doing my very best
just to put out some green leaves
and hard new buds,
and I do not believe
for one minute
he cursed that fig tree.

I think he said something like …
maybe no one will eat
fruit from you again,
or maybe mountains will move.
Have faith either way,
and forgive
yourself and others
even the withered days.

He tried hard to warn them
about the cross,
but, on the Jerusalem road,
they were still hankering
after the figment
of a prosperity gospel.