December 31st

"When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be made well?'" John 5:6

maybe.

but could we clarify

exactly what being 

made well entails?

is there an NDA which

protects us from that

chronic guilt from being

thrown up in our faces?

are those grudges which

scrape the grace off our hearts

really tossed into that 

crystal sea of forgiveness?

and how do i handle that

Stockholm syndrome which

makes me feel so reluctant

about turning my back on

the pain which has been

such a constant companion

over all these years?

do we want to be made well?

maybe.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

December 30th

"The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; 

    the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength.
He has established the world; 

   it shall never be moved;
your throne is established from of old;
   you are from everlasting." Psalm 93:1-2

you cast the Star

in the sky so we could

find you when we needed you.

you took apart your throne

to craft a manger for your bed

lining it with strips of your robe

woven from grace and love.

you stored your majesty 

in the back of the closet

and slipped into the frayed,

comfortable shirt of humility.

you boxed up all your power

and might, dropping them off

at the local thrift store, and 

ignored the taunts of the bullies

taunting you from the corner,

laughing that you had become

as weak as a newborn baby.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

December 29th

"His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'" John 2:5

don't talk about it

or rationalize it

nor theologize about it

and debate it

stop creating committees

to develop action plans,

but 

walk with the forgotten.

sit on a bench with the grieving.

gather children close to you

blessing them beyond measure.

learn from those whose lives

are radically different from yours.

set down your privilege so 

you can become rich in simplicity.

share a meal with the vulnerable.

dare to love your enemies.

never mock another person.

don't consign anyone to hell.

make justice your offering to others.

let those who have ears . . .

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

December 28th

"Enlarge the site of your tent, 

    and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
   and strengthen your stakes." Isaiah 54:2

we keep shortening the table

and putting chairs out by the curb,

and you stay up all night

in your workshop building

extensions and more chairs.

we keep thinking we have

to put up more walls 

to keep "those people" out

and you walk behind us

pulling out the blocks 

to build bridges of hope.

we draw the curtains 

across our double-bolted

doors and windows, and

you sit out on the front porch

holding a candle, waiting 

and watching for all the

wastrels to find our way

home.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

December 27th

"This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, 

    and was saved from every trouble."  Psalm 34:6

we share memes

telling others we feel

their pain, but really don't

want them to show us 

their wounds.

we quote folks who speak

of inviting others to be 

open about their struggles

and when they do, we quickly

move past their post.

we like to share platitudes

which imply that we will

accept others for who they are,

but when they pull back

the curtain, we reply, 'surely,

that isn't you . . .'

no wonder they cry 

out

to you, Listening Ear.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

December 26th

"Let them praise his name with dancing, 

   making melody to him with tambourine and lyre." Psalm 149:3

with legs wearied

from riding a new

bicycle, and those

worn out from taking

the holiday detritus

to the bins,

with arms sore from

throwing grandkids

into the air over and over

and with backs aching

late into the evening,

with eyes overflowing

with tears as family

departs until next year

and hearts needing 

stain glass windows crafted

in the broken cracks,

we lift our praise to you,

God of our hearts and hopes.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

December 24th

"But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.'" Matthew 1:20

just when we decide

to let fear become 

our best friend forever,

just when we make

up our mind to say

yes to the angriest

voice to speak for us,

just as we take that

deep breath so we can

spew bitterness on another,

just before we turn

our back on you in order

to run into the arms of temptation

you grab us by the lapels

of our souls and draw us

into your loving arms, whispering,

"i told you.

don't be afraid."

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

December 23rd

"An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham . . .Tamar . . . Rahab . . . Ruth . . . the wife of Uriah . . . Salathiel . . . Achim . . ." Matthew 1:1-17

the famous,

the forgotten,

the innkeeper who

had room for strangers,

the woman known only

by her husband's name,

the outsiders, 

the vulnerable . . .

with a family tree

like this, we should

fit right in!

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Third Friday in Advent

"He will regard the prayer of the destitute 

    and will not despise their prayer." Psalm 102:17

as they hold their 

hand-drawn sign at

the intersection of

Hopeless and Broken,

wondering if we might

be the compassion they need,

we suddenly become very

obsessed by the car sale

going on across the street.

as they pull into the parking 

lot in the dented and rusting 

junker, we switch out the lights,

turn off our hearts and

hope they won't be too

persistent in ringing the doorbell.

as they sit down on the

bench next to us, mumbling

the same words over and

over again, and emitting a

smell that overwhelms us,

we suddenly remember an

important chore waiting 

for us at home, 

never noticing you taking

our place next to them and

acting as if you had all

the time in the world for

only them.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

 

Third Thursday of Advent

"The cords of death encompassed me;
     the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
     the snares of death confronted me."  Psalm 18:4

you came,

to climb down into

the Pit with us, while

others toss down platitudes

and well-intentioned memes

to show us how much they care.

you came,

to spend however long

it might take to unknot

the strands of grief wrapped

tight around us so, together,

we can knit them into 

warm shawls of remembrance.

you came,

so that when death slowly

tries to squeeze us into

fearful submission, you

rub grace all over us, so 

we can slip out of its grasp.

you came,

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Third Wednesday of Advent

"I will not accept a bull from your house,
   or goats from your folds." Psalm 50:9

may we stop offering you

a continual feast of baloney

ground from the foolishness

and fears of our lives.

may we cease obsessing

over all those folks called the

Greatest of All Time by an

adoring public and an even

more sycophantic media.

but 

like you,

may we listen to those whom

the rest of the world ignores

and exalt the people who serve

the hungry, the rough sleepers,

the forgotten, the broken 

without seeking any recognition.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Third Tuesday of Advent

 "Be silent, all people, before the Lord; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling." Zechariah 2:13

in the pauses between
the streaming songs

may we hear the cries

of lonely and scared children

traumatized by war,

in the stillness of the

first snowfall blanketing

our homes and yards

may we listen to the sobs

of creation which is being

damaged by our foolishness,

in the silence of our apathy

to the hatred and cruelty

which spreads like wildfires

across so many places

may we not fail to notice

you choosing to once more,

once again, (however many

times it takes for us 

to finally be transformed)

come to us in

the poorest of the poor,

the one ignored even 

by the forgotten,

the heir to glory

who becomes a refugee

fleeing for your life 

carrying only that weakness

which will shatter the powers

of evil once and for all.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Third Monday of Advent

"The Lord is just in all his ways 

    and kind in all his doings." Psalm 145:17

when you could oppress us

you choose to grace us

with your justice and hope.

when you could be consumed

with red-hot out-of-control anger,

you breathe the cool gentleness

of forgiveness into our souls.

when you could turn your back

on us and walk away, your run

toward us to sweep us up in your arms,

may we pay more attention

to what you actually do, our God,

than keep expecting you 

to behave as we do.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman 

Third Sunday of Advent

"On that day I will raise up
    the booth of David that is
           fallen,

and repair its breaches,
   and raise up its ruins,
   and rebuild it as in the
            days of old." Amos 9:11

from the ashes

of our despair, may

hope rise like a phoenix,

from the rubble

of bombed out cities

may bridges of peace

be built to span chasms 

of ancient enmities,

from the emptiness 

of our hearts may 

you tap deep reservoirs

of love we thought 

had long ago dried up.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Second Saturday of Advent

 "Jesus answered them, 'Beware that no one leads you astray.'" Matthew 24:4

the politician who claims

only they can save us 

from ourselves,

the religious types of

every stripe who spend

more time being critical

of others than living out

the gospel of hope and grace,

the purveyors of platitudes

who want to lull us to sleep

and dream of apathy,

so many pied pipers

to choose from, especially

when our fears make us

such gullible lemmings

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Second Friday of Advent

"'For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord."'" Matthew 23:39

in the little boy

who writes Santa

to put all his gifts

under the tree of a

classmate who is poor,

you come.

in the teenager 

who puts her arm

around a transgender

friend, warning the bullies

to pack off, 

you come.

in the family

who opens their hearts

to the Palestinian students

who have no home 

to return to because 

it has been reduced

to rubble,

you come.

and we are 

blessed.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Second Thursday of Advent

"I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, 

    so I shall be saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:3

as we call,

may we hear

the cried of all

whose voices are ignored.

as we praise,

may we see you

working for peace

and justice, and rush

to be your co-workers.

as we receive

your gifts and blessings,

may we see no one

as our enemy but as

another child of God,

for surely

that is how you 

see us.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Second Wednesday of Advent

"Our God comes and does not keep silent;" Psalm 50:3a

hedge funds buy up

medical practices and

hospitals right and left,

closing many, limiting 

access in others, but 

since they still accept

our plan, we say nothing.

elected officials grant 

tax incentives to businesses

and cronies who fund 

their campaigns, while

the families lose their homes,

but since it is NIMBY, 

we keep our mouths shut.

we are so busy following

the Swift changing news

and wondering how our

sports team will do 

at the end of the season,

while people shiver 

on every street corner, 

yet since we are warm

and cozy in our bubbles

with our smart TVs turned up

your words 

fall on deafened ears.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman 

Second Tuesday of Advent

"When the cares of my heart
    are many,

your consolations cheer
    my soul." Psalm 94:19

may we be 

the carol which

sings to the hearts

of the weary,

the quiet respite

surrounding the frazzled

parents around us,

the healing balm

for all whose souls

are frayed by worry,

the lap little children

with all their fears

will find to be more

comforting than they

ever imagined.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Second Monday of Advent

"Do not, O LORD,
   withhold your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   keep me safe forever." Psalm 40:11

when we hoard

our forgiveness when

others hunger for it,

when we put 

our grace into the

safe deposit boxes

of our hearts, and then

throw away the key,

when we assume 

you will always love

us not matter what 

as

we set locked gates

around our own love,

well,

why in the world

would you want to have

anything to do with us,

our God?

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Second Sunday of Advent

 "Who is the King of glory?" Psalm 24:8a

we will find

the King of glory

not in the corridors

of power and might

but in the hallways

of a hospice center

walking with weeping

family members.

we will find

the King of glory

not on committees

trying to come up

with another action

plan to end poverty

but on the street corners

with folks who hope we

might at least share the

crumbs of our lives.

we will find 

the King of glory

not in the tall steeple churches

or the big box buildings who

hide their identity with strange names,

but with the little children

taking handmade Christmas

cards to the loneliest folks

in their neighborhoods.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

First Saturday of Advent

"Restore us, O God; 

    let your face shine, that we may be saved." Psalm 80:3

when a classic Ferrari

sells for 51 million dollars

while little kids and parents

sleep in abandoned cars,

restore our sense of values.

when food banks are 

running out of resources

while restaurants offer 

larger and larger portions,

restore our compassion.

when we think we have

to become connoisseurs

of coffees, wines, and olive oils

as climate change drought 

sucks the water out of wells

needed by millions of people,

restore our priorities

and save us from 

our apathy

our arrogance

our greed

our self-absorption

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

First Friday of Advent

"Hate evil and love good, 

    and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
   will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."  Amos 5:15

why do we find it

so easy to execrate 

our rivals in sports but

seem to be willing to let

evil get more than a second chance?

why do we believe justice

belongs in gated communities

but not in neighborhoods

defeated by blight and filled

with the rubble of disappointment?

why do we see our selves

as being part of your 

Beloved Community, but

would exclude the remnant

called vulnerable and forgotten?

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

First Thursday of Advent

"The cords of death encompassed me;

    the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me."  Psalm 18:4-5

you gently wash away

the vernix caseosa of 

pandemonium off of us

using the warm waters of life,

you swaddle us in 

the warm blankets woven

from the strands of grace and love,

you hold us in your arms

so we can feel your warm

breath upon us, and then

you place us in that cradle

crafted from the pieces

of a discarded cross.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

First Wednesday of Advent

"God looks down from heaven on humankind

    to see if there are any who are wise, 

who seek after God." Psalm 53:2

may we be wise enough

to see the hints of justice

in those who are demanding

leaders build more shelters

and affordable housing,

to hear the whispers of grace

in the conversations between

the residents and the students

who discover their class project

to be more than just education.

to embrace the strangers

who have just started attending

our services and programs

as if they are long lost friends.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

First Tuesday of Advent

 "Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things . . ."  2nd Peter 1:12

when we forget the names

of our best friends, you look

at the palms of your hands

where they are engraved, so

you can whisper them to us.

as we struggle in the 

misty past hoping to find

our way back to today,

you gently hold our hand

so we know we are 

heading in the right direction.

should the day come when

we start repeating ourselves,

saying the same things and

asking the same questions

over and over, 

may we hear your gentle 

voice reminding us that

you are with us.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmon: @Thom-Shuman

First Monday of Advent

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1

when friends text me,

'hurry up, we have 

to get to the sales 

before everything is gone!'

may i pour another cup

of tea and pick up my book.

when folks stand by 

the side of the road flipping

those big arrows pointing 

to the 'fresh' (really, after

being cut down weeks ago?)

Christmas trees in the lot,

may i pull into the park

and take a long walk

with silence as my companion.

when the world pesters me

to try to see as many of the

same plot/town/actors holiday

movies as i can in a single day,

may i run down the street

to make snow angels with

the kids.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

First Sunday of Advent

"For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." 1 Thessalonians 5:2

we have wired the house

so no window can be 

can be opened without

alarms going off, and put

security cameras on the 

front and back doors to

show us who might be there,

while paying private security

to patrol the neighborhood 24/7.

but you come

as the elderly neighbor

who can't find her way home

after going for a walk,

as the little kids selling 

Christmas cards door to door

to get money to buy

their single parents gifts,

as the teenager offering

to shovel our walks 

so they can buy a 

fast food meal they will

scarf down in the doorway

where they sleep each night.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

 

auld lang syne

"Jesus stood still and called them, saying, 'What do you want me to do for you?' They said to him, 'Lord, let our eyes be opened.'" Matthew 20:32-33

did we notice you

watching us as you

wondered if we might

offer friendship to a stranger

or were we too busy

tiktoking our way through life?

did we offer you 

a sideways glance 

as you were sliding deeper

into disappointment after disappointment

or can we claim you were

not in our peripheral field?

did we see you waving 

a tentative hand like a lonely

teenager hoping that a mate

might come over and chat

or were our eyes to bleary

from binge watching flicks

which net us nothing?

as this year comes to an end,

open our eyes, Watchful God,

open our eyes.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

hopeful

"Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;" 1 Peter 3:15b

instead of tossing 

it in the attic with the

rest of the stuff we don't

know if we should keep,

let us plant hope like

a beacon in our front yards.

instead of putting it

with the heirlooms in

the safe deposit box

to pass them on to

our kids and grandkids

at some point in the future,

let us offer hope to them now,

so they can grow old together.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman