August 16th

“May the glory of the LORD endure for ever;
   may the LORD rejoice in his works —” Psalm 104:31

in those lives stumbling
towards the finish line of justice
and our awkward attempts
at living in grace with ourselves
in the refusal to admit
we cannot do everything,
you offer a gentle smile.
long after our voices grow silent,
your holy laughter will echo
over the meadows where sheep
meander in the misty mornings
and down the streets where
children still play hopscotch.
but—
for this moment,
this breath,
this fragile, shimmering breath,
may it be enough to gladden
your heart, Spinner of galaxies,
as you long for us to notice,
just for this moment
this breath,
this fragile, shimmering breath.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman