Wednesday, June 23, 2010

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

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

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