STRANGER NO MORE

He may be a stranger,
but he strides confidently
choosing a seat in an upfront pew
since his hearing’s gone bad.
He gazes upon the empty pulpit
anticipating ancient words
while praying for some new ones
to lift his weary soul tonight.
He closes his eyes:
the simple story he’s heard for years
takes on new life
as he feels the young babe breathe –
first in, then out.
In a second, the world has changed,
no longer stranger,
no more.