hard

    to embrace gracious

        freedom

            so eagerly,

        that i take on every

                menial task

            on behalf of others;

    to avoid the aisles

     stocked with temptation's

            empty calories,

        but shop in the produce

                section of the kingdom,

            filling my cart

            with all sorts of luscious

                         goodies,

        giving them away

        as i walk down the

                street;

    to follow you

    down paths overgrown

        with aching loneliness,

            potholed with grief,

                worn smooth where

                those who turned back

                    walked;

you have asked

a hard thing, 

    yet i see your footprints

        stretching out before me,

     and take the first (of what

        will surely be many

                 faltering)

steps.

(c) 2010 Thom M. Shuman

miraculous (1st Kings 17:8-24)

when i am down

to my last few drops

of the oil of obedience,

and distractions hammer

at my door

inviting me to come out

and play:

fill me

with that trust

which has no end;

when the flour of faith

is but a dusting

at the bottom of my heart

and sin's silliness

points me 

in the wrong direction:

feed me

with that love

which never wears out;

when i put my feet 

under the table

for just a few hands

of hold-em poker with death,

and she moves 'all in,'

pull the chair out

from under me,

and yank me to my

senses;

when i believe

there are no miracles left

(at least, for me):

tickle me 

with your grace

till i ache

with life.

(c) Thom M. Shuman