blessed

blessed are the dog-walkers,
    for they will discover the streets of the kingdom;
blessed are those who welcome refugees,
    for they will embraced with unimaginable love;
blessed are those who read to children,...
    for they will plant seeds that bear fruit;
blessed are those who shelter the homeless,
    for they will be shawled in God's grace;
blessed are those who stock food pantries,
    for they will taste God's hope;
blessed are those who reach out to the outsiders,
    for they shall be called bridge-builders;
blessed are the faith-full foolish,
    for they shall be called the clowns of God.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

room of requirement (Micah 6:8)

so self-focused
on our devices, we
   wander right past
   injustices sprouting
         up around us;
we step over those
sleeping on the streets,
   who thirst for just
   a sip from our steaming
         cups of kindness;
we race after the
proud and powerful, trying
   to grab their coattails,
           until

we discover your heart
standing wide open so
   we can enter and
   learn how to live.

(c) 2017 Thom M. Shuman

coddiwomple (Baptism of the Lord)

drenched
    in your grace,
  dried off
    with your tears,
we slip our
feet into the
   sandals finely crafted
   by Spirit, and
begin our stumbling,
      hesitant
   walk with you,
not sure
   where
  or why
    or how,
for it's even
a mystery to you.

(c) 2017 Thom M. Shuman

servant one (Isaiah 42:1-9)

your servant,
      Gentleness, comes,
   splinting bruised
                  reeds
         with justice;
   using Spirit's tweezers
   to slowly pull
            faith
      out of the
      puddles in our
            souls,
         so we can
         burn brightly;
   birthing hope
      from fear's
      barren womb.

(c) 2016 Thom M. Shuman