Friday, March 20, 2020

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

Thursday, March 12, 2020

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

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

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