Silence Bonds Us All

Silence bonds us all here.

It is the great equalizer,

Bringing us to our knees

Before God.

Clink of silverware,

Scrape of knives,

Food masticated,

The sounds

Of  the created

Being fed.

A humbling thing it is.

No zippy comments,

No quaint remarks,

No quick rejoinders

To keep the false fronts up.

Just they and I

In our nakedness.

Compassion flows in me

For myself

And my companions

In this place today.

We are beautiful

Stripped down,

Without the need

To impress or compete.

Clothed only in thankfulness

For gift of food and life

This day.