Second Sunday of Advent

To you, O LORD, I lift up my
           soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
    do not let me be put to
           shame;
    do not let my enemies
           exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for
           you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who
          are wantonly
          treacherous.
Make me to know your
           ways, O LORD;
    teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and
           teach me,
    for you are the God of my
           salvation;
    for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy,
           O LORD, and of your
           steadfast love,
    for they have been from of
           old.
Do not remember the sins of
           my youth or my
           transgressions;
    according to your steadfast
           love remember me,
    for your goodness' sake,
           O LORD!
Good and upright is the
           LORD;
    therefore he instructs
           sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what
           is right,
    and teaches the humble his
           way.
All the paths of the LORD are
           steadfast love and
           faithfulness,
    for those who keep his
           covenant and his
           decrees. (Psalm 25:1-10)
- - - -

         in you
in the frenzied
crowd,
everyone pushing,
shoving, jostling
for the last item
in stock,
or the best price,
you
reach out
and take us by
the hand, your
friendship the
star
guiding us to the
real gift;

at the edge of the
journey
wondering how this
might be the
right road,
the pump truck emblazoned
'YHWH and Family'
pulls up, and swinging the pipe
over our heightened fears,
you begin sealing
the cracks with
mercy
and filling the potholes
with steadfast love and
faithfulness, until they bond
seamlessly
so we
might find the
way;

lying awake
in the bleak
mid-hours,
running the list of
all the homework
(and office)
that needs to get
done,
you sit
on the edge of the bed,
gently humming a tune,
and then whispering,
"here's the words
to the only thing
you need to know:
'Glory to God . . .'"

in you,
we find
all
we long
for.

© 2012 Thom M. Shuman