Losing my cross...

[Midrash] poem/prayer for August 28, 2011

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   

Thom M. Shuman

Interim Pastor

Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH

Associate Member, Iona Community