at the ledger's edge (Exodus 14:19-31; Matthew 18:21-35

each morning,

   i make sure i have

      my wallet, hankie,

      glasses, car keys,

            and

   a fresh page in my

         notebook

       to list all the

         hurts and slights

      which will come my

           way;

at night,

         before evening prayers,

   i power up the pc

      and my heart

           quickens

       as i pull up the

             spreadsheet,

     keeping careful accounts

                of

      what he said,

        what she didn't do,

   who hasn't apologized yet,

          who owes me a kind

               word

     but comes up short.

do you ever

        grow weary

   of stretching out your

            heart

     to part our seas

       roiling with grudges,

   so we might

     follow your gentle

          path*

      of

           forgiveness?

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman

* George Herbert begins his poem 'Discipline':

Throw away thy rod,

Throw away thy wrath:

          O my God,

Take the gentle path.