Instructions

Poem: "Instructions" by Sheri Hostetler, from the anthology A Cappella: Mennonite Voices in Poetry © Reprinted with permission of the author. (buy now)

Instructions

Give up the world; give up self; finally, give up God.
Find god in rhododendrons and rocks, passers-by, your cat.
Pare your beliefs, your absolutes.
Make it simple; make it clean.
No carry-on luggage allowed.
Examine all you have with a loving and critical eye, then throw away some more.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Keep this and only this:
what your heart beats loudly for
what feels heavy and full in your gut.
There will only be one or two things you will keep, and they will fit lightly in your pocket.