“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!” Psalm 36:7a
if
my stock portfolio
turned
to dust,
if
my bank accounts
were
suddenly hacked
and
totally depleted,
if
my pension was
taken
away tomorrow,
i
am still wealthy
beyond
imagination
if
your love
is
all i have
to
my name
©
2020 Thom M. Shuman
“For you have maintained my
just
cause;” Psalm 9:4a
we turn the page
to check the stock market,
and forget the story
about the folks being evicted.
we switch channels
to find the score from
last night’s late game,
never noticing the
lonely child kicking
the football around
in the schoolyard closed
because of the rising cases.
we read the latest
social media posts,
and as our blood pressure
rises,
we forget about mailing
the note to a friend.
but
you remember them all
each and everyone
© 2020 Thom M. Shuman
“Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” 1 Corinthians 10:17
in these days
it is stale crackers
and cold milk for some,
a slice of toast
and sweet hot tea for others,
for a few lucky ones
it is the special loaf
made just for the occasion
as well as the wine
opened just for the feast,
but
whatever, wherever, however
we all share the same meal
because we are one
in you
© 2020 Thom M. Shuman
“He has told you, O mortal,
what
is good;
and
what does the LORD
require of you
but to do justice, and to love
kindness,
and to
walk humbly with
your God?” Micah 6:8
it is a struggle
at times but, yes,
we will march for justice,
and yes, we will learn
to play nice with others
no matter how they
treat us, but
can’t we at least
let everyone know
what wonderful people
we are . . .
not keeping it all
under our hearts?
© 2020 Thom M. Shuman
“‘For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.’” Luke 11:10
why is it we expect
you to give us
everything we want,
to come looking
for us every time
we wander off,
leave the door
wide open, no matter
how far past the curfew
we get home, but
we think we should
not do the same for
others?
© 2020 Thom M. Shuman
"And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will life.’” Luke 10:28
on every test,
had no red ink corrections
on our written essays,
finished our dissertation
before it was due,
we pack all our learning
away
and immediately forget
we are supposed
to live out everything
you have taught us
© 2020 Thom M. Shuman
“but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.” Luke 9:53
with the cross
trailing behind you
like some shadow
no one has ever seen,
you are so focused
on your destination, you
do not notice us
rushing off to the travel agent
to buy a ticket to Tarshish
© 2020 Thom M. Shuman
“Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he wa] the Messiah.” Matthew 16:20
every time
we do not stand
up to those who
bully
the vulnerable,
we do not condemn
injustice with
more
than just a ‘tsk,
tsk,’
we refuse to see
the stranger in
our midst
as a sister or
brother,
we continue to
keep
you
a secret
(especially from
ourselves)
© 2020 Thom M.
Shuman
“And all were astounded at the greatness of God.” Luke 9:43a
it is not the multimillionaire
athlete phoning in
his game,
but the Special Olympian
reaching the finish
line
long after everyone
else,
nor the politician
determined
to enrich
themselves by
the office they
hold, but
the little girl
emptying her
piggybank for the
cancer fund
for a classmate
she barely knows
who reveals your
greatness
to us, O God, for
they know you
better than we do
© 2020 Thom M.
Shuman
“You are a hiding place for me;” Psalm 32:7a
while the Adversary
closes its eyes and
counts to 100, you
take me by the hand,
your finger on your lips
to shush my giggles,
and lead me into
the hollow of your heart,
where i will never be found
by all those eager
to capture me
© 2020 Thom M. Shuman
“Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’” Luke 9:18
you
are
the
shelter always open
for
rough sleepers,
the
candle in the window
showing
prodigals you are
waiting
for us to come home,
the
family that welcomes
every
lonely stranger,
the
heart the breaks
every
time ours do
©
2020 Thom M. Shuman
