August 28th

“I kept my faith, even when I said,
   ‘I am greatly afflicted’”; Psalm 116:10

when i awake but cannot
get out of bed because worry
sits heavy on my chest,
you pick it up and toss it
in the trash can, then hold
out faith as a robe to warm me.
as i move through the day
from meeting to meeting,
or loneliness to loneliness,
or walking down unknown streets,
you mark little red flags
in my soul’s GPS so i know
where i can find faith.
when each night seems longer
than any prayers i can cobble together,
you slip in, like a kitten getting
under the covers, to remind me
that faith is that small candle
i always seem to forget i hold,
its flame flickering in all
my hesitant breaths, but
refusing to go out.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman