Jerrick Cavagnaro, our Assistant Director of Music and Organist, presented this poem/hymn as the devotion for our staff meeting last Tuesday. It is both poignant and humorous, capturing the moment in which we find ourselves. He got a standing ovation from the staff.

When I was 12, I began filling in occasionally for the organist at my home church. By the time I got to high school, I was substituting at various churches in the area. God bless my mother, who would drive me each Sunday to a new house of worship, sometimes 40 minutes away. I got to experience lots and lots of different hymns and eventually I developed a few favorites.

(My favorite hymn is “All creatures of our God and King” in case you were wondering.) I would often ask my dad “What is YOUR favorite hymn?” to which he would respond sarcastically “Jesus Christ, it’s hot outside” or “Jesus Christ, it’s cold outside” depending on what time of year it was. I would usually chuckle and begrudgingly roll my eyes and say “haha, that’s not actually a hymn.”

Well dad, I guess the joke is on you now. Without further ado, I present: “Jesus Christ, it’s hot outside,” which ended up being more of a poem than a hymn.

“Jesus Christ! It’s hot outside!” within my heat-trapped car, I cried
as sweat came dripping down my chest while I waited for my COVID test.

“This line is moving far too slow! And all my gas I’ll surely blow
if I keep waiting here in line.” But really, I was doing fine.

So, there I sat in anger true and wondering just what to do
I thought I’d take my new-found time to come up with a little rhyme.

“Yes indeed, it’s hot today,” and, “I love the heat,” I usually say,
but it’s different in a scorching car especially when you can’t drive far.

So, I thought a bit about the heat as I was sitting in my seat
and pondered rising temperatures and government expenditures,

and global warming, and rising seas, COVID, and my fear of bees.
Injustice, inequality, and who is in authority,

when finally I moved up a bit because someone had chosen to quit
the line that we were waiting in that took so long, your head would spin!

Now back to boredom, there was I, as sweat again dropped in my eye
and started then to think again of just how fortunate I’ve been.

A COVID test I easily got along with all those in that spot
while others in the world that day were not so lucky in this way.

So, who was I to be complaining as the burning heat came raining
in my car as there I sat ignition off; a little brat.

I turned the key to move once more. The line was moving, I was sure.
But still there were ahead of me 15 more cars that I could see.

And then I turned the radio on, first NPR, then Celine Dion.
I sang a song to pass the time but in my mind, I yelled and whined

and thought “this really isn’t fair” that I am here with sweat drenched hair
when suddenly a man appeared in a bright yellow shirt, with a scraggly beard:

a volunteer, holding a water cup to show us where we should pull up.
He directed me to the testing tent and soon some questions came and went.

And as I waited for the swab soon to collect a nasal glob
I thought, “My God! They must be warm to stand out here all day in uniform.”

Each one was covered head to toe in mask and scrub and gloves to go
with each new test they gave that day which after, would be thrown away.

If I was hot, imagine those who everyday choose to expose
themselves to heat and COVID too to serve the general public through

their service. And again I thought of all those who don’t have a lot:
who labor daily in the field, and have no power they can yield

to make it in this cruel world of vast division more unfurled
by this last year or two of death and sin and grief and labored breath,

and rich and poor and black and white, and racist tendencies and fights
which ravaged us the more of late, while in our hearts the flames of hate

are fanned by this, the summer heat. So, what am I to do but eat
my sorrows, trying to forget the stinging burn of hatred sweat?

And then, the nurse came to the door with test in hand, I knew what was in store.
He hurled the q-tip up my nose, and tearing up, I suddenly froze.

He said, “Are you alright there, sir?” I replied, “Yes, though I prefer
The spitting test.” Then I drove off and floored it like a jet take-off.

And after two whole hours there I was thankful that the whole affair
was over. But again, I thought of all the blessings that I’ve got.

So, let us, then, give thanks to God for all we have. Though we are flawed
and have more progress yet to make like giving more because we take

for granted, all our blessings shown as others, in their labors, groan.
Rejoice! Be glad, and sing this day made by the LORD, who once did say,

“This is my commandment new: that you may follow in my cue
and love each other through and through as you loved me and I loved you.”

Indeed, my LORD, despite the heat, you burn in us, our souls replete.
Burn hotter still, with us abide, that we may cry, “Jesus Christ! It’s hot inside.”