third commandment

"Jesus answered, 'The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.'" Mark 12:29-31

oh, 

and by the way,

love doesn't mean

you get to set the rules

for folks you don't like.

love doesn't mean 

you get to determine

whose heart can 

be joined to another's.

love doesn't mean

you know what is best

for everybody else.

love doesn't mean

you get to bully folks

whose lives and choices

are not like yours.

God doesn't see anyone

as unclean or unholy.

God's love is more than enough

for you, for me, for everyone.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman