canticle 15

O God,
who have you made up
the guest room for?
For whom have you set out
a plate on the table?

those who try to keep
on the path of faithfulness,
and who do not keep
truth hidden within themselves;
who won't say an unkind word
about another (especially behind their back),
who care for others
as much as of themselves,
and who don't share gossip
over the backyard fence;
who don't give the haters
a second glance,
but respect those who
listen to God's whispers,
who stick to their word
even when others threaten them;
who freely open their
pockets and purses,
and will care for the most vulnerable,
when offered to look the other way.

these are the folks who
are planted deep in the world
to bear God's bouquets of
hope, grace, love, and peace

(c) 2020 Thom M. Shuman