August 22nd

“Be merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me,
   for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
   until the destroying storms pass by.” Psalm 57:1

in a world filled with anger
and a culture obsessed
with posts, texts, memes,
how will mercy ever find us
so we might be more caring.
yet
as we flap our wings
like little birds trying to figure out
what this flying thing
is all about,
you offer shelter under
your steadfast shadow of love—
just as a mother does
who encircles her young ones
when thunder shakes their bed
and lightning scares them.
and so,
just like them, we wait
until the storms pass
the lightning fades,
the wind becomes a sigh
and the only sound we hear
is the beating of your heart.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman