pilgrim parade by Pastor Erling Shultz

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil,

asking, “Who is this?”  

                                                                                                 Matt 21:10

pilgrim parade                                                                                          Erling Shultz, April 2020

festivals always draw a crowd:

     from all direction’s pilgrims arrive,

          swelling the city beyond its space;

     from the west and south they parade,

          to party, to grow, to pray;

     from the east and north they march,

          to vie for influence and for gain

some come lucky

     to find a spare family couch;

some come wealthy

     to afford a high-priced lounge;

most come hoping

          to locate a spot and lay down a cot;

     they camp just outside the gate,

           cramped and stacked for security sake;

     filtering in and stumbling back

          each dawn and dusk they retrack

from the north they creep and sneak,

          through dark alley and crooked street;

     come to steal, cheat, scam and trick

          pilgrims ripe with pockets to pick;

     come not for any festival reception

          but for easy self-profit deception

from the south thousands upon thousands

          are herded, led, and hounded;

     doves, goats, calves, and sheep,

          arrive with sacrificial prices steep;

     come to make their yearly living

          but only with the pilgrims blessed giving

from the east the conquering military marches

          conveniently through the welcoming city arches;

     displaying their might with sword and horse,

          taking the most visible and busy course;

     reminding the pilgrims, the need to behave,

          any uprising would lead to their grave

from the west Jesus and disciples make their entrance,

          through residential streets with white picket fences;

     humbly rides astride love, faith, and hope,

          while pilgrim expectations do wave and throw;

     He comes as well with a mission intention,

          a religious/social/political revolution

all make their way toward the midst of unrest,

          each parade wishing to grab any pilgrims’ interest;

     as a pilgrim myself, I have to sit and ponder,

          which procession holds my wonder;

     (from which direction have I come,

          before the church service has begun)

at times I travel with an alternative task,

     and hide behind a self-serving mask;

at times it’s a path of the all-important ritual,

     but I leave searching for anything spiritual;

at times I like to strut, stroll, and crow,

     and allow my authority to make a show;

but there are times when I ride humbly in,

     and free God to work a transformation

which pilgrim parade draws your attention,

which pilgrim parade involves your participation?