April 9th

"For you, O God, have tested us;" Psalm 66:10a

we don't have to write

lengthy essays,

we don't have to worry

about achieving

a high score,

we don't have to cram

for every test so we

can do better than the goats,

we don't have to try

to ace all the answers.

for you grade us

on whether we will

sit and talk with strangers

at modern day watering holes,

if we will challenge the powers

to become weak,

if we dare to stand up

to the bullies in every place,

if we share from our abundance

of grace, love, peace, and justice

rather than saving them

for some imagined final exam.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman