star of wonder

i wonder . . .

as she cleaned up
the barn,
packing for the trip
(to God-only-knows-where)
was Mary muttering
under her breath,
'men!
they couldn't have
brought diapers,
or given us
a crib?'

as he pulled
and begged the donkey
to stand still while
the bags were loaded on,
did Joseph think,
'wise?
they couldn't figure out
i could have used
a new power drill,
or at least some
of that Persian hardwood
that is rarely in the store?'

when we reach out
to gift those in need,
are we wise enough
to provide what
they really need,
a job,
child care,
a clinic,
a friend?

i wonder . . .

(c) 2008 Thom M. Shuman

fulfilled

we spend the morning
tubing down the brooks
of living water,
wading in the shallows
trying to catch the tadpoles
before they grow up,
watching butterflies
dance from flower
to flower;

after a picnic lunch
and a (very short!) naptime,
you take out your box
of multi-colored chalk,
drawing a hopscotch game
on the path swept smooth
of any rocks that might
bruise our souls,
patching the holes
so we have a smooth
landing place;

and at night,
you pour us each
a cuppa hot chocolate,
gathering us around
your rocking chair,
telling us stories
about the Word who,
like a long-distance runner,
never tires

of us.

(c) 2008 Thom M. Shuman

come, anointing oil

when we would place
a foreclosed sign
on the ash-strewn lawn
of disappointed dreams,
you come,
hanging a wreath
strung together
from hope and peace
with a great, glittery
bow of grace;

when we would hand
the outcasts
the cast-offs from
our closets,
you come,
wrapping them in
your handknitted shawl
(from the finest Lambs' wool)
of embracing joy;

when we would
lash the broken
to that never-ending round
of paperwork, regulations
and platitudes,
you come,
slipping the shackles off,
laughing together
as you race to frolic
in the Spirit's sprinklers.

come, grace's fragrance;
come, love's lotion;
come, compassion's comfort;

come, and anoint us with
you!

(c) 2008 Thom M. Shuman

kingdom, come (based on psalm 85:1-2, 8-15)

each morning,
goodness glides across the sky,
warming life's winter,
so that trustworthiness
can blossom in each
heart;

in the ancient cathedral,
righteousness and peace
stand before the congregation,
speaking their vows
and exchanging rings,
as God invites,
'you may now
kiss one another';

across the street,
Chesed and 'Emet
have gone into business together,
dressing the windows
and stocking the shelves
for their Advent sale;

and with grace and glory,
the baptizer has cleansed
the River 'avon
of all the impurities dumped
with reckless impunity by sin,
patiently waiting
for the kids to show up
to go for a dip;

selah

(c) 2008 Thom M. Shuman