Advent: Day One (2)

1 Thessalonians 1

"We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ..."

My continuance depends on yours.

Sweatered arms with rolled sleeves
press the edge of a laminate desk,
risking exposure of a tired mind
they extend, reaching for caffeine,

for quarters to support, for something
to hold, to hold them.
To hold up a sweaty head and speak
of dialogues and curriculums, to speak

God in circles around the sweaty heads
held on eighth grade shoulders. Buzzed
and lacking sleep, bare arms with icy
dryness press yawningly on the plastic edge

and hold up dreary words and patently
disinterested sarcasm. How can hope survive
in the drowsy chasms of these eyes?
Endurance inspired by our labors together in Christ.

My continuance depends on yours.