May 31st

"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
    Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my supplications!" Psalm 130:1-2

'how ya' doing?'
comes the rhetorical question
at the checkout of a simple prayer

and as i rotely reply, 'fine,'

the response is pushed to me

and i turn to walk away, but

you hear that hitch, that quiver,

that something in my voice

and quickly put the closed 

sign up and lean your arms

on the counter, asking, 

'what's going on? really?'

and i see that rope ladder

being lowered so

i can begin to climb out

of that abyss which has been

my home for far too long.

(c) 2024  Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 30th

"Woe is me, that I am an alien in Meshech,
    that I must live among the tents of Kedar." Psalm 120:5

feeling alone,

i cling tight to silence

as we wander through

the streets filled with those

shouting their anger and

denouncing those who would

listen to hope and grace.

later,

as the shadows fall 

and even the stars seem

to give up trying to be light

in these tenebrous times,

we will sleep rough with

the rest of those longing

for the wonders of life

rather than being tucked away

in homes illuminated by

flickering screens on devices.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 29th

"The beginning of strife is like letting out water;
    so stop before the quarrel breaks out." Proverbs 17:14

it is just a small drip,

that slight another unknowingly

lets fall from their weary heart.

just a drip that slowly, 

inexorably begins to pool

in the hollows of our heart

where, because we are so

hurt we cannot bring ourselves

to tighten the faucet of our memory,

those drip, drip, drips

continue to drop 

as the level of our bitterness

begins to rise inch by bitter

inch

until it threatens to burst forth,

flooding our relationship away

unless

we dare to dam it up

with forgiveness.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 28th

"Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, 'Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.'” Matthew 12:38

may the welcome

we offer to immigrants

be your 'vacancy' sign

in a rejecting world.

may our willingness

to be kind to those 

who make it so hard

be your sign of grace.

may our speaking to 

the powers that be on

behalf of affordable housing

be your sign of justice.

may our dogged persistence

to make sure every one

knows they do not journey

through life alone

be your sign of hope.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 27th

"They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; 

    they are gracious, merciful, and righteous." Psalm 112:4

we could sleep 

in the comfort 

of our warm beds

or get up to go out

to gather up the homeless

and take them to shelters.

we could cradle our grudges

in our hearts gently rocking

them until they give us some rest

or we can choose to share

grace with those we can't stand.

we could store our grievances

in the safe deposit boxes

of our weary souls, or we

could wrap our arms around

those who hurt us so terribly

telling them we forgive them.

we could feed on lies

offered to us by those

culinary whizzes of cruelty

or we could drink from

the deep

 wells of life,

hope, and truth.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Trinity Sunday

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple." Isaiah 6:1

we could see you

high and lofty, or 

playing in the puddles

with the muddy dog;

we could call you

Father or Creator, or

sing of you as the 

Shawl of Grace.

we could look for you

in the clouds of glory

or find you babysitting

all the forgotten around us;

we could call you

Son or Redeemer, but

maybe you prefer ally

of the mocked of our times.

we could listen for 

that mighty rush of wind, or

hear you ringing the bells of hope;

we could call you

Sustainer of all that lives, or

watch you be the defense

attorney of the bullied.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Eve of Trinity Sunday

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.” Psalm 90:1

we try to turn
y’all
into a mystery
trapped in an enigma
to be put together
like a puzzle with missing pieces,
but
you
are the dad creating
recipes from just 

a few recipes,
the sister teaching
us how to repair a car,
the first responder

always ready for when

the call may come in.

© 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 25th

"Let them curse, but you will bless." Psalm 109:28a

they store up their

grudges to pile them

onto my weary soul,

but you touch me with

grace.

they learn as many

new profanities as they

can, especially in 

other languages, but

you whisper of your

love.

they trip me, trying to

make me end up in

their piles of trash, but

you grab hold of us

and walk us home.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 24th

"And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;" 2 John 6a

yes, we are called

to love God with all

that we are and might be,

but this is love: to confront

that part of our self which

considers itself superior

to all, even God.

yes, we are to feed the

needy that we meet, 

but this also is love:

to nourish that hunger 

deep within us for value,

for affirmation, for grace

that others believe we

should not have.

yes, we are to see 

the enemy as kin from

a different family, 

but this is love as well,

to know that the one

who can do the worst

to us is deep inside of us

longing to be reconciled

once and for all.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 23rd

"Fire goes before him, 

    and consumes his adversaries 

         on every side.
His lightnings light up the world; 
    the earth sees and trembles." Psalm 97:3-4

as we sit around 

the fire pit. eating

s'mores, telling old stories,

thinking of friends (even

those we have not yet met)

may our words become comfort

for their wearied, worried souls

and our prayers rise like

the sparks from the fire to you.

and

as the bull frogs begin

their evening beatbox joined

by the cicadas and crickets

deep in the shadows, may

we feel our souls trembling

at the sheer wonder 

of your presence all around

us.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman 

May 22nd

"I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; 

     with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness 

     to all generations." Psalm 89:1

we fumble the faith 

handed to us and

mumble under our breath

when it comes to mercy,

we grumble about how

you waste grace on others

while we tumble over our feet

trying to get away from all who

you send our way for help,

we jumble all the words 

you give us to whisper 

to the ones who need comfort

and chumble at the justice

you would offer to others

until it is crumbs in the world.

yet

you continue to compose

new songs for us, hoping

the music might catch our attention

and the words might cause

our apathy to crumble.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 21st

 "Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, 

   nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
   love her, and she will guard you." Proverbs 4:5-6

it is not that piece of paper 

with that special seal on it 

and fancy Latin words, now

nicely framed and mounted

prominently on a wall, but

that tattered, dog-eared children's

book we keep by our beds

to remind us of those moments

we leaned against that person

who lovingly (and ever so patiently)

traced their fingers under the words

so we might feel the magic,

the wonder, the pure delight

in beginning a journey 

which will never end as long

as we are wise enough to realize

that our true vocation is to trace

our fingers under grace, hope,

love, justice, and peace for all

the ones the world considers

to be the throw-aways of our time.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 20th

"'Give justice to the weak and the orphan; 

    maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
   deliver them from the hand of the wicked.'” Psalm 82:3-4

we have made the

quick trip to the DIY store

to get the new hinges

for the doors, the varnish

for the shutters which

were damaged, and replacing

the smoke alarms which 

never stopped chirping after

that wild and wooly day

at the church yesterday,

and so

we never see the little kids

hoping someone might

notice their bikes needing

new brakes and tires, or

the paint starting to peel

from the side of the house

of the lady down the street

whose husband died just

a few months ago, or the

food pantry which is hoping

folks might make more donations

so they can meet the overwhelming

need in the community.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

The Day of Pentecost (May 19th)

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” Acts 2:1-4

Christmas is like that
old, fraying-at-the-edges
sweater we slip into
on cold winter nights,
so comfortable, so comforting,
that we are warmed by the
memories it evokes in us.
Easter is still a paradox
but we have taken care
of having to solve it
by simply detouring onto
that road lined with butterflies,
bunnies, baskets with goodies,
and a parade of spring finery.
but Pentecost?
who in the world wants
those windows we shut
in our hearts and double-latched
to be blown wide open,
and why would anyone like
to feel flames dancing on top
of their souls bringing them
wide awake from their slumber,
and does anyone desire
to suddenly start speaking
in a different way when we
take such pleasure in
those words which really
don’t reveal anything about us?

© 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Eve of Pentecost

Pentecost 23

the Spirit is my comforter;
i shall not be afraid.
she sings lullabies
as i try to go to sleep;
she puts a glass of water
on the table in case i get thirsty;
her warm breath soothes me.
she looks under the bed
and in the closet corners
so i know i am safe each night.

as i journey towards the
end of time, she is my advocate
reminding death whose i am.
she refuses to leave me alone,
her flames dancing on my heart
to melt the fears chilling my soul.

she spends all day getting
my favorite dish ready for me,
while those who never liked me,
watch in envy.
she teaches me how to braid my hair,
as we sit drinking hot chocolate
watching the sun go down.

she races ahead of me
and all my friends,
throwing open all the
windows and doors
of our new home, so we
know how welcome we are.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 18th

"for she said to herself, 'If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.'" Matthew 9:21

if we only touch
your heart, we might

become more loving.

if we only touch

your spirit, we might

become more inclusive.

if we only touch

your grace, we might

become more forgiving.

if we only touch 

your justice, we might

be more passionate for

all the forgotten.

if we only touch

your hope, we might

heal the brokenness

consuming our world.

if we only touch

your life, ours might be different.

if only . . . 

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 17th

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

we think we are
your twins when we

offer judgment to those

whose spirits have already

been broken by the world

never noticing you pulling

them onto your lap to hug,

or when we point out all

the rules they have broken

even though you already

wiped the whiteboard clean,

or when we turn our backs

on them because they have

not filled out the forms for

assistance correctly or 

(heaven forbid!) they do

not live in our postal code,

as you keep nudging them

forward whispering, 'keep

knocking, for you are the

fragrant offering I would

give them, if they would

only pay attention."

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 16th

"Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice," Ephesians 4:31

we get it,
we really do

but sometimes bitterness

tastes better than 

the finest wines,

quarreling can be

so much more fun

than a quiet chat,

anger is like that 

ace we hide in our

sleeves just waiiting

for the right time 

to pull it out and toss

it in someone else's face,

and malice becomes that

lucky charm we carry around

in our pocket so we will never

lose to the folks who annoy us.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 15th

 "But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift." Ephesians 4:7

one day

grace is sitting 

on the floor reading

a book to preschoolers,

and the next day

playing the piano 

helping the memories

of aging friends to 

begin to blossom.

one moment

grace sneaks up 

behind us to tickle

us until we roar

with unstoppable joy

and the next minute

wraps its arms tight

around us as our tears

flow from our broken hearts.

once in a while

grace nudges us to

take a risk and high dive

into spending time with

folks who make us uncomfortable

but always, in all ways,

grace takes a risk on us

refusing to ever 

turn its back on us.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 14th

"And they went and woke him up, saying, 'Lord, save us! We are perishing!'" Matthew 8:25

maybe

we need to stop

counting numbers of bodies

at a given worship service

and figure out how to

serve the forgotten 

we never seem to notice.

maybe

when we wring our hands

as we look at the budget

and wonder how long we

might keep the doors open

we should look out the windows

and notice the neighbors

we haven't taken the time

to meet at this point.

maybe

instead of crying out 

from our desperation and

worrying about perishing

we should start pushing the

stone away from fear's tomb

where we find ourselves

and step into God's resurrection.

maybe . . .

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 13th

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side" Psalm 124:1

we sat by the side
of our child through
endless chemo treatments
feeling the isolation 

each and every night.

the woman made

the scary decision to

slip away from her 

abusive partner, taking

her kids to the shelter

thinking she was all alone.

the student struggled 

to find the courage 

to stand up to the bullies

who tormented him every day

convinced he was the only one.

and you were there 

in the nurse bringing 

blankets and pillows,

the taxi driver who would

not take any payment,

in the classmates who

said, 'we've got your back.'

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 12th

"Happy are those
   who do not follow the advice of the wicked

or take the path that sinners tread

   or sit in the seat of scoffers,
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
   and on his law they meditate day and night." Psalm 1:1-2

standing in line, we

scan the cafe trying

to figure out where 

we might sit . . . 

there's the table full

of conspiracy theorists

always willing to pull

out another chair, or

the late-night hosts 

who use humor to offer

their cruel barbs at others

as celebrities jostle to share

space with them.

then there are the ones

sitting in the so-called  

corner of misfits, 

the knot of non-binary kids

listening to each other's pain,

the lonely widower who tells

of his empty day to the teacher

who wonders if it's time to retire,

the book-clubbers who find

grace and hope in everything they read.

standing in line, we

scan the cafe trying

to figure out where 

we might sit . . . 

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 11th

"They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green," Psalm 92:14 (NIV)

the grandmother tracing
the words in a book for
the kids at a library
passes on the gift
shared with her decades
past.
the white-bearded gent
passing out gifts at
the retirement center is
still the bright-eyed kid
waiting all night for
Father Christmas.
the octogenarian couple
who hold hands everywhere
they go (even in worship!)
are role models for the
younger generations (and
never realize it).

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 10th

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - " Ephesians 2:8

stop with all the to-do
lists and filling every
square on the calendar,
pack away the diplomas
and pictures of us with
folks who are well-known,
drop all the titles we like
to put before our names
and all the academic
letters we add after,
let go of that work ethic
which really has nothing
to do with any religion
except having more achievements
than any of our colleagues.
God has opened the
divine heart and showers
us with grace in every moment,
and that is all we need.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 9th

"As I watched," Daniel 7:9a

i wondered where God was
and then i noticed the folks
who were mowing the lawn,
cleaning the gutters, and
painting the house of the
struggling retired couple, and
i knew.
i went down the street
hoping i might bump into Jesus
and walked past the homeless
vet feeding his dog before he ate,
slipped past the kids making a game
out of picking up the litter on the grass,
and stopped dead in my tracks.
i watched the mist moving slowly
across the lake in the morning,
heard the whispers of the couple
at the next table planning a surprise
party for their mail carrier, and felt
the gentle breeze on my face
and realized the Spirit was tagging along.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 8th

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:2

Grace is not the

100 meter flash

but the 10000 meter

slogger who is chosen last

for her school, and rumbles

at the back of the pack,

encouraging all the other

stragglers, gathering them up

in a community of tenacity,

holding hands together as 

they cross the finish line

long after everyone else

in the late afternoon gloom,

where peace has tossed

aside the timing device but

holds out its arms to welcome

them all as winners, while 

the Trinity shares

high fives and fist bumps

in celebration.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 7th

"I kept my faith, even when I said, 

    'I am greatly afflicted';" Psalm 116:10

it was faith who

opened their arms

to let me sob my heart out

when my soulmate died.

it was faith who sat

in the corner keeping 

an eye out on me when

i trembled in fear over

what tomorrow might bring.

it was faith who whispered

in my soul of how valued

i was when everyone else

mocked and rejected me.

it is faith who has been

my most trusted counselor,

my best friend, 

my cherished companion,

even when i thought

i was walking alone.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 6th

 "Their idols are silver and gold,

   the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak; 

   eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear; 

   noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel; 

   feet, but do not walk;

    they make no sound in their throats.
Those who make them are like them; 

   so are all who trust in them." Psalm 115:4-8

we have created our idols

in the images lodged in our hearts:

the angry whose words

   nourish the bitterness

   flowing from our lips,

the ones who claim 

to see all our suffering

   but are looking only

   at themselves in a mirror.

those seekers of our adulation

who act as if they listen

   to the brokenness within us,

but only hear the songs

of the sycophants around them.

the politicians who clap

as if applauding us but

   would push us away

   given every chance,

the singers whose lyrics

claim they walk in our shoes,

   but drive off in limos 

   and climb into private jets

   when the concert has ended.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

   

May 5th

"It is he who remembered us in our low estate, 

    for his steadfast love endures forever;" Psalm 136:23

when everyone walks right

past us because they have

forgotten not just our names

but who we are, you stop 

open your arms and shout,

'i know you!"

when we have fallen 

about as far as possible

without hitting bedrock,

others stand at the edge

shaking their heads and

muttering to one another,

and you hand them a rope

and ask them to hold tight

as you rappel down to bring us up.

when we are not at work

or in school or sick at home

and the gossips begin 

to sharpen their tongues

to flay our character open,

you stick up for us

every time.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 4th

'"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.'" Matthew 7:13

we take that simple path

of discipleship worn smooth

by your footprints of faith

and keep adding lanes

to it, so we can go as fast

as we can chasing our way,

eager to reach those ramps

which will take us off 

to the stores selling narcissism,

to the fast fool chain restaurants,

and the petty stations where 

we can refuel our bitterness,

before ending up at those

roundabouts which have

no exits and we end up

nowhere.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 3rd

"'Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.'" Matthew 7:1

you take the black

robes off our shoulders,

you strip the walls 

of all our diplomas,

you donate all our books

to the local library,

you take our gavels

with our names engraved

on brass plates, and

point us to where 

the defendants are sitting,

saying,

'go, listen to their stories,

hold their hands,

wipe their tears away,

look deep into their souls.

and then, decide if you

are any different from them

and have the right 

to render any sort of

verdict.'

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 2nd

“'When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.'" Leviticus 19:33-34

we came to wells
in the heat of midday

to avoid the mocking

comments of neighbors

and found you waiting

to pour us a cup of

that water overflowing with life.

we fell at your feet and

wept about a system which

could care less about 

our children because 

of where we came from

and you admitted we were

your mentors in compassion.

we begged that you might

not forget us after we parted

company from one another

and you promised that we

would be as close to you

as your very beating heart,

and we hope, by your grace,

to offer such hospitality 

to the strangers we will

meet throughout our lives.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 1st

"The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble!" Psalm 99:1a

because royalty can seem
to be out of touch with people,

politicians seem to be all

about voters idolizing them,

the wealthy cannot keep 

from coveting more and more,

and the powerful are absolutely

corrupted beyond imagination,

we may think you are 

really no different, and so

miss hearing your whispers

of compassion for the vulnerable,

never notice you working

continually for justice for the forgotten,

walk past where you are

telling the dismissed of their worth,

and never accept your abiding

love and grace for us.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman