Eve of the Baptism of the Lord

"Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, 

    at the presence of the God of Jacob,

who turns the rock into a pool of water,
   the flint into a spring of water." Psalm 114:7-8

parched

our hearts become deserts

our souls turning to dust,

we stand at the very

edge of our worst fears

that if we dare to take

that simple, small step

God only knows what 

will happen . . .

. . . never noticing that

you gathered up all the tears

which have flowed from us,

and poured them into that

pool of gentle hope, where

you stand just waiting 

to take us by the hand

to pour the waters of grace

over us, as you whisper,

'welcome, my Beloved,

welcome.'

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman