Monday, March 18, 2024

Fifth Monday in Lent

"Pursue love . . ." 1 Corinthians 14:1

may we
shadow love until
we learn its ins and outs
and deepest secrets.
chase after love
the way a dog runs
to get that mucky ball.
track love through life
noting its bounding gait
in childhood and adolescence,
its steady determined
pace in the middle years,
its slow shuffling along
as the years dwindled down.

and then,
may we start
after love once more.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Fifth Sunday in Lent

"Even the sparrow finds a home,
         and the swallow a nest for herself, "
     where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
     my King and my God." Psalm 84:3

that blowhard who
everyone wishes would
just drift away,
that neighbor whose
political opinions bother us 
more than their choice of 
a sporting team,
that supervisor who never
misses a chance to take
all the credit for our hard work,
and yes,
even that person who 
we have the most difficulty
abiding in our lives (that 
face in the mirror every
time we look)
has a special space
in the heart of God.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Fifth Saturday in Lent

"Immediately the father of the child cried out, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'" Mark 9:24

when the meals 
of falsehoods are served,
offer us the fiber of truth.
when bitterness is offered
for our thirsty souls, 
quench us with the 
nectar of kindness.
when our weary spirits
want to call it a day,
strengthen us with 
hope's therapy.
when we are tempted
to buy the arguments
that it is better not to know,
offer us your wisdom 
which is always free.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Friday, March 15, 2024

Fifth Friday in Lent

"My God, my God, 
    why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, 
    from the words of my groaning?" Psalm 22:1

because we assign 
the job to you, God,
we ignore the whispers
coming from the rooms
along the hospital corridor,
the hushed sobs of kids
who are bullied by peers
and terrorized by adults,
the hollow cries 
of lonely neighbors sitting
in the shadowed rooms,
the words forming in 
our own souls and hearts
that we keep telling 
to be quiet.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Fifth Thursday in Lent

"He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Mark 8:29a

some jump up and down
waving their hands in the air,
'we know! we know! you're
the strong man we've been
waiting for, well, forever!'
others keep erasing 
their answers and writing
in something new, all the
while wishing it was 
a multiple choice question.
a few keep muttering 
to themselves, 'he never
said anything about 
there being a test . . .'
me, i am still not sure,
but as long as you
know who i am, 
i guess i will keep
tagging along and trying
to pay more attention.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Fifth Wednesday in Lent

"And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, 'Why does this generation ask for a sign?'" Mark 8:12a

children die 
by the thousands 
in brutal attacks 
and we look around
for intimations of peace.
folks sleep rough 
on street corners and
on park benches while
we form task forces
to work on solutions.
anger continues 
to boil over into bitter
disputes and edges
toward violent episodes
and all we can do 
is sigh and shake our heads
because no one gives
us any hints on how to be 
human.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Fourth Tuesday in Lent

"When the days of weeping for him were past," Genesis 50:4

some you hold
for however long
we need the comfort
of loving arms,
some you simply
listen to that silence
echoing in the deep
emptiness of our hearts,
some you walk beside
for however long the
journey takes and 
wherever it leads,
some you simply wait
in patience, in hope,
in love, and with grace,
knowing in a very 
personal way that grief
has no clock
no calendar
no boundaries
no end

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman