Friday, August 31, 2018

samaritan


mugged by our foolishness,

we lie by the side of life,

until you come by, picking

us up, balming us with grace,

carrying us to Hope Inn,

where we can heal, waiting

for you to come back for us.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Thursday, August 30, 2018

breathless


we would hold our breath

until we get our own way (or

begin to turn blue),

but you simply breathe wonder,

hope, peace into all our lives.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

cohen


when hallelujahs

lie broken on the floor, you

could sweep them into

the bin, but repurpose them

as little kids’ silly songs.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman


Tuesday, August 28, 2018

you are


when we say the worst,

   your Word continues

   to whisper kindness in our ears;

when our hearts

shrivel with meanness,

   your Spirit continues

   to fill us with peace;

when we do all those things

no one imagines in us,

   you are still God,

   transforming us with grace.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman


Monday, August 27, 2018

jacks


while it stands in the yard,

yelling for me to come out

and play, i will

keep sitting on the floor,

playing jacks with grace,  

until anger gives up,

stomping away in search

of another playmate.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Sunday, August 26, 2018

loafing


all too often, we

leave the bread of heaven out

on the counters of life

until, thinking you stale and tasteless,

we throw you in the bin,

wondering what we might try next.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Saturday, August 25, 2018

doors


you open the door

to your heart, so we may come

in, but we would slam

it shut behind us, so ‘they’

dare not try to follow us.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Friday, August 24, 2018

head and shoulders


you long for us to be yours

from the top of our heads

to the soles of our feet, but

we continue to brush you off

our shoulders like annoying dandruff.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman


Thursday, August 23, 2018

dive in!


why do we press on

to crawl through envy’s sewers

and jump in pride’s muck,

when we could swim forever

in your vast ocean of light?



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

first day


the fearful going to a new school

after a heart-breaking move;

the little ones with backpacks

weighing more than they do;

the teens driving their friends

early in the morning;

the kids who will stand at bus stops

with no food in their bellies:

no matter how often we forget

to look out for (or over) them,

we give thanks that you don’t



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

originally


original sin –

perhaps it is not really

a mystical curse,

but the fact that everyone

would choose to pick the apple.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Monday, August 20, 2018

breath prayer


hopefully, (perhaps

   a little) hesitantly,

Mary breathes

out her ‘yes,’ and

with a great

   gulp of grace,

takes in your Breath

where it will be

cradled and

   nurtured

until that night

in Bethlehem.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Sunday a.m.


soft breezes stirring leaves,

kids (not so) quietly making breakfast,

food others produce and

joys beyond imagination,

hear us as we gently

whisper, ‘thanks for everything’



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Saturday, August 18, 2018

music tells stories


the cawing of crows,

the mews of little kittens,

waves breaking on shores,

are parts of your concerto,

Composer of creation.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Friday, August 17, 2018

hearts


in the bone weary

server who works a double

so a young mother

can see her child’s recital,

your sacrificial love shines.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Thursday, August 16, 2018

fix


addicted to us,

you continue to feed your

habit every day

with love poured out so freely,

with that hope which never ends.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman


Wednesday, August 15, 2018

incarnation


what we see in Jesus

(the love, grace, compassion, welcome)

is not simply you being

like us for a short while,

but who you are always,

in all ways.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman


Tuesday, August 14, 2018

mercI


unselfishly, you

pour out blessings upon us,

while we respond with

selfish gratitude, convinced

that “thanks” equals ‘quid pro quo’



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman


Monday, August 13, 2018

theological question


you ever want to

stay in bed five more minutes;

use personal days;

have that second cup of tea

and put real butter on the scones;

do you, God?



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman


Sunday, August 12, 2018

trivial pursuits

whisper words of truth;
offer tender hearts to all;
walk with peace, not evil;
do all those trivial things
that are needed more and more.

(c) 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Saturday, August 11, 2018

oh darn


when we act as if

following you is about

personal desires,

we miss your words and actions

about justice and welcome.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

heavenly host

the check-in person,
the registration helper,
the calming nurses,
the folk with hi-tech machines:
all your angels around us.
(c) 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Thursday, August 09, 2018

gifted


welcome to strangers,

grace to those broken by fear,

joy to little kids,

may these be the gifts you share

through me this day, Loving God.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Wednesday, August 08, 2018

travel light


behind us, we drag a

trunk full of stuff for that long

journey through life, but

all we need fits into that

pack you slip on our shoulders.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Tuesday, August 07, 2018

wherever


in cold waiting rooms,

under imaging devices,

you are beside us,

teaching us deep breath prayers,

holding us close to your heart.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Monday, August 06, 2018

crafter


when we slip and break

into a dozen fragments,

you do not sweep us

into the bin, but put us

back together with Grace Glue.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Sunday, August 05, 2018

manna


feed us, Bread of life,

with hope which frees the oppressed,

with grace which forgives,

with wonder which does cartwheels

in early morning raindrops.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Saturday, August 04, 2018

not just the 1%


keep reminding us,

God of the overlooked folk,

how much of what we

view as so necessary

is privilege in their eyes.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman


Friday, August 03, 2018

strange

marking the box ‘understood,’
we begin to stuff the universe
into it, until you do
a God-strange thing like
the Pillars of Creation
and we scratch our heads
in wonder.

© 2018 Thom M. Shuman

Thursday, August 02, 2018

droplets


like mist over lakes,

fog tiptoeing across lawns,

sprinkles tickling kids -

your Spirit comes to calm us,

embrace us, and refresh us.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman


Wednesday, August 01, 2018

worker


pulling on your jeans

and knocking dust off your cap,

you crank the engine,

guiding the paver over

the potholes of our foolishness,

covering them with mercy’s macadam

and sealing with Spirit’s hope.



© 2018 Thom M. Shuman