canticle 23 for these times

God is the health care folk
all around us:
encouraging us to stay home;
reminding us to wash our hands
so we can help others be safe;
teaching us how to be mindful
and watch over ourselves and others.

even as we shelter in place,
we will not give in to fear,
for God is with us,
in those who call us and care for us,
in those who shop for us,
and those who treat us.

around a lonely table,
in a houseful of family,
in a hospital with strangers,
God feeds us with grace,
pouring out hope upon us,
filling us with peace in sleepless night.
i know, without any doubt,
that God's gentleness and compassion
are walking right beside us,
showing us the way home
to the One who holds us 
in Love's Heart forever.

(c) 2020 Thom M. Shuman

canticle 95

gospel, country, hip hop,

rock and roll, r & b, classical:

let every genre raise a song

to you, O God.

we will come jumping and jiving

into your living room, clapping

our hands in time to our songs:

for you are beyond words,

and music is the common

tongue to speak of you!

you cradle canyons in your hands

and shape Everests from dust,

you float islands like rafts

across the oceans of the world.

we come running to jump up

in your lap, and laugh as

you bounce us on your knees,

and then sit on the floor

as we play marbles together,

and you listen to our silly jokes.

you ask us to pay attention, and

oops!

we run off, slamming our doors

as hard as we can as if to test

how far your patience stretches.

but

if we put our ears

up to the doors and listen

very carefully, we might just hear

your heart beating slowly,

hoping we would come out

and sit at your feet to hear

your stories of grace

© 2020 Thom M. Shuman

canticle 121

our eyes cast down onto

sheol’s road, you tip up

our chins so we can see hope

leaping over the horizon,

running our way through

creation’s flowery fields.

you help us to stay steady

on our feet in the gusts of life;

we won’t catch you daydreaming

you hold us, and all your children

tight to your heart, refusing

to nod off no matter how weary.

you are our babysitter, our guardian;

you are a shady oak on a hot day,

cooling us with sweet lemonade,

showing us how to use a telescope

to explore the moon each night.

you refuse to let the malicious

to gain power over us;

you wrap us in your arms

when we tremble with fear.

whether we are relaxing at home,

running errands, facing down bullies,

trying to stand up to injustice –

wherever, whenever; here, there;

yesterday, today, tomorrow

you are

with us, beside us, for us

© 2020 Thom M. Shuman