“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” – Mark 1:1

“John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” – Mark 1:4

My life needs refreshing – turn around.
My body is aching – turn around.
My soul needs renewing – turn around.
My sad eyes are streaming – turn around.

Turn us around, John, turn us around.
Turn us and spin us to cleanse us today.
Turn us around, John, turn us around.
We’re desperate for living anew.

He came to the shore – turn around.
To be baptized by John – turn around.
The first to be bathed in the Spirit of God
Was Jesus himself – turn around.

Turn us around, John, turn us around.
We look for what’s greater than we – turn around.
Turn us around, John, turn us around.
Equip us for living anew.

A poem/prayer based on Mark 1:1-8, the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel Reading for Year B, Second Sunday of Advent.

The image is John the Baptist in the Wilderness, artist unknown but in the manner of Jusepe de Ribera – Royal Collection, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92145938. The smile on the Baptist’s face suggests, to me at least, that he knows something about me and it amuses him.