canticle 146

our souls rejoice in you,
God of wonder and grace!
we sing carols of joy
in this season and in all
the days to come, until
there are no more!

help us to learn not
to trust politicians
be they right-wing,
left-wing, wingless; or
those who could care
less about others.
their words turn to dust
just as they do, and their
plans drift away like chaff.

but our hope is in you,
God of our faith grandparents;
hope which comes, not
just once a year on a holy night,
but is ours every breath we take,
a gift from the One who
flung galaxies into the heavens,
who never breaks a promise,
who lifts the forgotten to their feet,
who places extra chairs at dinner
until everyone has a place.

God picks the locks on
every fear and anger
which imprisons us;
God tilts up our heads
from  our devices, so
we can see the needy;
God teaches us justice
as the basic skill we need.
God keeps an eye on those
we have turned our backs on;
God cradles the lonely mourners
and sits in doorways with kids
who have been locked out
of the homes they grew up in;
God holds each of us accountable
on how we treat the vulnerable.

God's love, hope, grace, peace,
wonder, joy, welcome never become
obsolete.
our souls rejoice in you,
God of grace and wonder!

(c) 2019 Thom M. Shuman