apprenticeship (matt. 23:1-12; 1 thess. 2:9-13)

if i preached
what i practice

i could be a huckster
with that little chopper,
dicing my sins
into such tiny pieces,
i do not even taste them
in this stew of my life;

i could manage
a kiosk out at the mall,
dispensing that canny cleanser
that removes all the garbage
i spill on myself
throughout the day;

i could be a street peddlar,
reaching into my cart
and handing out
the burdens i picked up
along the way,
being too busy
(and important!)
to carry them myself.

so,
draw near to me,
that I might
apprentice myself to you,
working night and day
to learn how to craft
a worthy life.
(c) 2008 Thom M. Shuman