punctuation (psalm 138:1-6, 13-18)

i remember those
          (all too many) days
                   when the
             ?
   appeared at the end
                   of this verse,
       my worries and fears
                         always
           trying to boldface it;

there was that one
    time though, when the
                           !
        ran up and sang out,
    clear as a bell, that
              shivery afternoon,
         with the wind at my back,
                 standing atop
                          Dun I;

yet,
         it is there
                on still as snow,
                   as well as shattering, days;
                in my wondering,
                  and wandering, journey;
               in the shadow of my best self,
                   and trying to trip up my worst;
         however prosaic,
     seemingly forgettable,
              so grammery,
                            but just what i need
'I come to the end--I am still with you'
                       .
© 2011 Thom M. Shuman

Christmas Eve/Day

the bothy

every room will be blazing with
                              light,
      so i will have no trouble
           finding the place
   when i arrive, or so i
                imagine:
      the table covered in fine
                                lace,
                   heirloom china
        and mirrored silver at each
                     place
          with the feast's aroma
             drifting in from the kitchen;
   my feather bed will manger
                my weary body while
     silks sheets swaddle me to sleep
                   after a relaxing soak
         in the jet-streamed tub.

but

         what if it is
just a box built out of
               river rocks,
   the door wind-weathered
                   and water-buckled,
      refusing to stay shut
          as if expecting more folks;
a rough-hewn shelf
         in one of the corners
    holds a clay pitcher brimmed
            with cool clear water,
      a hand-drawn map to the spring
                next to it;
wood has been laid
                     in the fireplace,
          ready to be brought to
                             life;
a stone shelf is all that keeps
         one's body from the ground,
    just wide and long enough
             for a rough blanket,
      a candle and matches
                  where the pillow would be;
           and there's a shovel
                by the door for taking care
                     of the necessaries;

it seemed perfect for
                                       you
       when you arrived,

didn't it?

© 2011  Thom M. Shuman

i don't have time

bone-weary from errands

i don't have time to listen
   to my children singing in the tub,
   to my spouse quietly fixing dinner,
   to the angel whispering in my ear;

exhausted from the mall expeditions

i don't have time to wait
   to find hope suffed in my mailbox,
   to see you walking with me in the snow,
      for you to fill my emptiness;

spending the whole weekend decorating

i don't have time
   to greet a neighbor with a smile
      and not a mumble,
   to scrape the ice off my heart
      so you won't slip and fall,
   to be rocked gently
      in the cradle of your love.

         but
here i am,
     Lord,
   hoping you have
        time
for me.

(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman

eusebia (2nd Peter 3:8-15a)

it's tempting to think
that morality
   is about pointing one's
               finger at others,
      showing them the
         errors they have made,
                  but it's really about
    crooking your finger
    to invite the least
          into your home,
              tracing words in a
                    book, so a little
                one can learn,
        testing the wind
           so you know where
                Spirit wants you to
                          go;

it's simple to act as if
           piety
    allows you to walk around
    with your nose up in the air,
                but you need to stick
                   your nose in other
                people's problems,
      so you can help solve them,
          you need to smell the
                    ordure of injustice
             so you can help clean it
                      up,
                you want to lean down
         and rub noses with a little
                          kid
           and be filled with laughter;

it's easy to develop
the attitude that
   it is all about my journey,
      of my personal relationship
                                 with the divine,
         of what has been done for
                                           me . . .
but faith
        is God-ward,
             and them-ward
   before it's ever
       me-ward.

© 2011  Thom M. Shuman

eusebia is the Greek word translated 'godliness' in 2nd Peter 3:11

boots (Isaiah 64:1-9)

so shiny you can see
      your glory in them
   as you pull them on,
         the perfect accoutrement
      to your beribboned uniform
   with medals from the Roman,
      Babylonian, Egyptian campaigns,
your two-edged sword grasped
tightly in your hand . . .
   . . .so tear open the heavens
   and come storming down, to plant
         those boots precisely
      where we are convinced they
            are needed;

but instead, once again,
   (to our embarrassment? disgust?)

you pull on your waders,
   towing that rowboat behind you,
      picking up all those folks
      left behind when the
         stock market dams burst
   open;

you take your wellies
         out of the mudroom,
   heading out to the barn
      to feed all those
      we forget in our frenzied
          gorging on more,
        mucking out the floors
        of our hearts to make room
   for the little One;

your faded and scuffed slippers
fit comfortably around your
             feet,
   as you get up and put
      the kettle on,
         putting a plate
      of cookies on the table,
   pointing us to the chair,
   whispering,
         'why don't you sit
         down and tell me
     all about it?'

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman

the talent show (Matt. 25:14-30)

as the brown truck
pulled away from the
            curb,
      i picked up
      the box left
         on the porch, 
   and recognizing the
      return address,
            i immediately
         repackaged it in
              foil and
     plastic wrap, placing
   it in the bottom of the
       basement freezer,
           knowing no thief
     would look for faith
              there;

when i found the
   present way at the back
      of all the ones
         under the tree,
   and saw whose name
        was on the gift tag,
     i told the rest of the
          family i'd open
          it after dinner,
   but while everyone was
   dozing off in front of
      the tv, i carried it
         up to the attic,
    and hung grace way in
       the back of Aunt Maude's
          wardrobe that's been
      in the family for decades;

standing at the counter,
   my back blocking your view,
          as you told me, 'cream
           and two sugars,'
      i added something else
         to your tea, and when
   you fell asleep, i picked
           you up and carried
       you out into the night,
     hiding you in the compost
          of my fears
             and doubts,
   hoping you would never
     
notice.

(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman

it's so easy, so easy, so easy (Matthew 22:34-46)

it seems easy to love our neighbor
when she is the grandmother
across the street
   who always seems to make
   'too many chocolate chip cookies'
      and brings a plate full over
     to our house;

it's never hard to love our neighbor
when he is the retired gent
right next door
   who is willing to share his tools,
   and when we don't have the know-how,
      patiently shows us one-more-time
      how to unstop a drain,
         change the oil in our car,
            get the mower started
            without pulling our arms out;

it is so simple to love our neighbor
when it is the kids who
come by each fall
   selling Christmas wreaths
   for their scout troops,
      and each spring
      offering popcorn and candy
          to support the drama club;

but what if
   Moammar Gahdafi had moved in
      down the street;
   if the single mom
   whom we admire so much
       turns out to be a parolee;
   if the local Muslim population
      petitions the school board
      to allow time for Dhuhr?

what then?

© 2011  Thom M. Shuman

how (Matthew 22:34-46)

how do
i love you
when my mind
is so easily distracted
   by the yelling on television,
   the anger on the roadways,
   the dullness of my life?

how can
i love you
when my heart
is so broken by
   the hatred among believers,
   the bitterness of friends,
   the forgiveness which eludes me?

how should
i love you
when my soul
   thirsts for a companion,
   hungers for empathy,
   longs for a respite from its weariness?

maybe,
just maybe,
if i stop hanging on
to all my questions,
let go of all my answers,
and be caught by your grace,
i will be able to love
YOU
with all i am,
all i have,
all i hope to ever be.

Amen.
- - -
(c) 2005 Thom M. Shuman

the reception (Matthew 22:1-14)

in his off-the-rack
            tux
      and too-tight shoes,
   Jesus fidgets at the
               door,
     glancing at his watch
           every few minutes
   (always surprised that an
    hour hasn't passed since
    the last time he looked),
       peering, once more,
            down the road
            for signs of the
         stretch limos;

back in the kitchen,
   steam roiling around
   like cumulus clouds,
              Spirit
      mutters to the sous-chef,
   her breath sending the
         chefs de partie
      fluttering around,
            checking sauces,
            keeping salads crisp,
            banging lids and
         turning down flames,
      doing their best to avoid
           her look;

having polished the flatware
           for the hundredth time,
   and centered the arrangements
      for the last time,
               Abba
         sighs behind the bar,
   watching the fluted champagne
      flatten minute by minute;
throwing the bar towel down,
    the long-sufferer stomps
       to the back door and
       flings it open, hollering,
   'you cardboard box dwellers,
    you dumpster divers,
    you panhandling pariahs -
          come on in!
      there's plenty for all;
      bring your buddies!'

(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
        

let's get organized! (Matthew 21:33-46)

maybe we ought 
to form a tenants' rights 
      organization, 
   Owner of the Vineyard; 
 
after all, 
we seem to be doing 
        a pretty good 
     job 
   with what you have 
       given to us: 
 
so 
what do we need 
with all those 
         servants 
   you keep sending our way: 
      Mother Theresa, 
           Taize's Roger, 
        Martin Luther King, Jr., 
   and all the others 
   who don't seem to have a 
          clue 
     as to how to run 
       a vineyard? 
 
if you aren't careful, 
we might discover that 
   humility is preferred 
      over power; 
   service is more seductive 
      than success; 
   wisdom is to be more treasured 
      than wealth. 
 
and then what will 
      happen 
   to what you have 
      created? 
 
(c) Thom M. Shuman 
 

mindless (Philippians 2:1-13)

you root around
the clutter of my mind:

   behind the cartons
   overflowing with conceit,
      you find the shredded
      remains of hope
         and wash them with your
            tears;

   in the shadowed corner,
      you discover some old
      scraps of compassion
         and weave them into my
            heart;

   you sweep up the
      dust bunnies of my
      selfish ambition,
         so i can see where
         to put my knees
            to worship you.

make my mind yours,
   my Beloved,
make it yours.

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman

at the ledger's edge (Exodus 14:19-31; Matthew 18:21-35

each morning,

   i make sure i have

      my wallet, hankie,

      glasses, car keys,

            and

   a fresh page in my

         notebook

       to list all the

         hurts and slights

      which will come my

           way;

at night,

         before evening prayers,

   i power up the pc

      and my heart

           quickens

       as i pull up the

             spreadsheet,

     keeping careful accounts

                of

      what he said,

        what she didn't do,

   who hasn't apologized yet,

          who owes me a kind

               word

     but comes up short.

do you ever

        grow weary

   of stretching out your

            heart

     to part our seas

       roiling with grudges,

   so we might

     follow your gentle

          path*

      of

           forgiveness?

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman

* George Herbert begins his poem 'Discipline':

Throw away thy rod,

Throw away thy wrath:

          O my God,

Take the gentle path.

easier? (Matt. 16:21-18; Romans 12:9-21)

it's a whole lot
         easier
      to lose my
            cross,
   than to lose my
      life
  
to leave it propped
      up against the corner
   of the closet, dust
         bunnies sleeping
       at its feet;
to ignore it
      standing on the coffee
   table, looking out the front
           window, its cow eyes
        brimming with tears,
      as i pull away from
     the curb;
to simply reply, 'i can't
   remember the last time
           i saw it,' when
      i'm asked, 'what ever
   happened to your cross?'

but
 
each morning, it puts
       Good
   into my hands,
   closing my fingers tight
          over it, whispering,
      'don't let go; don't ever
             let go.'
it tapes a picture of
            evil
      to my bathroom mirror,
   so i will know it
         when i see it,
     and stand up to
            it;
it spends each lonely day
   at the loom,
       weaving the yarns
   labeled hope, love,
      patience, perseverance
         into that community
    which helps me to  
        bear what is mine.

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman  

crumbs (Matthew 15:21-28)

she had heard
of those promises made
under starry, sable skies:
   blessings flowing
   through the lines
   of desert wanderers,
      which would bring life
      to every one
      of God's children;

she had heard
of this wandering band
of foolish followers
   led by the teacher
   who reminded his kin
   of those long-ago
   spoken covenants;

but she was tired of
hearing only words . . .

even if it was only
      crumbs,
   she longed to be fed
   from grace's feast;
even if it was only
      a glance,
   she challenged Jesus
   to see her as
   his sister;
even if it was only
      a whisper,
   she dared him
   to call her daughter
   'my niece'.

watching his assumptions
tumble to the floor,
   after she yanked the
   table's cloth out
      from under them,
Easter's Child
     silently reached down,
   lifted her to her feet,
        and gave her his heart.

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman

why wait? (Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21)

when your soul is
        parched,
  drier than any lecture,
           come
     to that fountain
        which never runs
              out of water;

when all you have
left is
        a pocketful of
                 hunger,
           come
        fill your cart
  with bread and wine,
  with joy and wonder,
     all marked down to
                 $0.00;

when the props are
  k
   n
    o
     c
      k
       e
        d
  out from under you,
     give a holler,
  i'm right in the
          next room
     and i'll come
            running,
  staying up all night
      keeping an eye
          on you;

but

     come!

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman

in our midst (matt. 13:31-33, 44-52

the kingdom of heaven
  is like an old dog
  curled up in a
           sunbeam
     snoring his praise
        in solitude;

the kingdom of heaven
  is like a seashell
  burrowed under the beach
        which a little girl
              found
     and gave to her best
              friend
         in the bleak midwinter;

the kingdom of heaven
  is like a
             sprinkle of
         fireflies
     skimming across the
            lawn, just
        out of the
                reach
     of dancing
           kittens;

the kingdom
            is . . .

(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman

who forgives God? (Genesis 22:1-14)

when
  in that hedgerow
  woven tight with the
        vines of despair,
           the thorns of loss
           pricking at us,
     we find no ram
     caught by its horns;
when
  we cling desperately to
         each other as our
            child is wheeled
            towards the surgery,
     where her life is placed
        in the hands of strangers,
  and no angel comes
  running down the hall, yelling
             'wait!'

when
        we have mailed the letter
    to that old friend whose
            heart our anger broke
               all those years ago,
       but no word of pardon comes;
when
  the doctor comes into
            our room, but the words
       uttered are not
    "it's benign";
when
  there is no last minute
                reprieve
       in the sentence of
            loneliness
    which has been pronounced
                upon us;

when,
  do we forgive

you?

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman

trinity

you're not fuzzy math
that just doesn't add up,
   you're the dad
            who nags us
      to go mow the lawn
      for the laid-up neighbor;
   you're the mom
          who announces 'we're
              having left-overs tonight;
      that immigrant family
      whose care broke down
          is enjoying the pot roast.'

you're no theological
jawbreaker,
   you're our BFF,
   totally (and always)
            for us, even
      when we have trouble
         taking your side;
   you're our mate
      who knows us inside out,
         accepting us just as we are,
         pushing us to become more
             than we expect.

you're not a mystery
wrapped in an enigma,
   you're the thunderstorm
            that rattles our conscience
       awake;
               you're
         the gentle breeze
   that cools our fevered
           fears.

you're not a doctrine,

   you're a
      chameleon!

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman

dare we? (acts 2:1-21)

hesitant enough
to whisper your name,
  much less tell others
  of your presence in our lives:
        dare we ask for
        tongues of boldness?

our hearts
fatigued by
  the malignancy of poverty,
  the terror of our times,
  the children wounded in our streets:
        dare we ask
        for a transplant
        of compassion?

souls numbed
  by broken lives
  and shattered dreams,
grace iceberged
  by the chill of our culture:
        dare we ask
        for just the smallest spark
        to engulf us?

dare we hope?

              come, Holy Spirit, come!

(c) Thom M. Shuman

time (Acts 1:6-14)

we're ready;

you know
we are ready for the power
  (we've prepared ourselves
              for oh so long)
        certain we won't abuse it
     like so many before us;
but the humility,
   the weakness,
        the foolishness
 you left lying on the ground
     as if we should pick them up . . .

we would go anywhere
         for you - hop on a
   bus, grab the next plane,
      spend years out on the
             field of dreams, harvesting
        a bumper crop of 'them,'
but that 1000 yards down
  to the neighbor who has
                        trouble
       getting up on his ladder
  to clean his gutters -
     that's can't be all there is
           to the journey . . .

we have the structure
               all in place,
     everyone voted to approve
  the committees, the task forces,
       the bureaucrats, the gofers
    (it was unanimous, for pete's sake!);
but committing more than 2 minutes to prayer,
        facebooking the folks at the nursing,
  blistering our feet in the race for the shelter . . .

we're getting antsy waiting, you know;

does your watch need a new
       battery?

(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman