up here (Matthew 17:1-9)

         if
it was up
to us
      we would

metamorphose
         you
   into a
   cockroach, so
      you could be
      the star
   in the traveling
   flea circus;

download
         you
   onto that
   flashdrive
      that fits so
      comfortably
   in the bottom
   of the drawer and
         never sees
      the light of
            day;

transpose
         you
   into a minor
      key
   praise song, so
      we can complain,
   'why would anyone
         want to sing
         that
      tune;'

but
   into the
         Beloved,
      the one to
         Whom
   we need to
      listen?

not on our
         mountaintop!

(c) 2014 Thom M. Shuman

reward (Matthew 5:38-48)

our reward
         for
   being strong (and
      foolish) enough
   to try living your
            way?

toothless,
      we can sit down
   at your Table
         to let those
         we don't like
   spoon feed us with
      your grace;

cloakless,
      we can walk
   through the streets
         of the kingdom,
      warmed by your love
   on the coldest days;

foot weary,
      we dip them
   in the cool waters
         of life,
   shaking them dry
   and slipping them
            into the
            soft slippers
      spun of service;

empty-pocketed,
      we have simply
            made room
            for all those
         gifts
   we beg from you (which
      you share without
              any
         hesitation)

(c) 2014 Thom M. Shuman

fulfillment (Matthew 5:13-16)

"you are
the methylchloroisothiazolinone
   of the earth,"
         just doesn't have
      the same oomph,
            does it?
so
may we be
         the jalapenos
      in a world content
        with banality;
         the zest
      that stings minds
            focused
   only on themselves;
         the tartness
       that awakens mouths
            which speak
                  only
       platitudes.

"you are
the LED of the world,'
         just doesn't
         seem to grab us,
            i'm afraid.

but
let us be
         the torch
      that shows the
            shadowed
      the way out of
   their troubles;
         the nightlight
      which comforts
            the fearful;
         the lighthouse
      which warns of
               dangers
         we all face.

then
      may all who are
      searching
               find
   that community,
         not necessarily
         on a hill,
      but in all the
            ordinary
   places and
         people
      around them.

(c) 2014 Thom M. Shuman