October 4th

"Then he looked up at his disciples and said: 'Blessed are you '" Luke 6:20a

blessed are those who climb power poles
to run new lines to valleys and up hillsides

and those who haul generators on pack

mules up the water cratered mountains.

blessed are the ones who resist the urge

to ship boxes of things no one really needs

as well as those who make as many donations

as possible to those with boots on the ground.

blessed are stores which put out furniture

for the asking to those who have lost everything

and strangers who pile up the debris and haul

it away before anyone can catch their names.

blessed are . . . 

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 1st

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

roads may be impassable
but God is still making a way
for the helpers to travel.
bridges may be washed away
but God is sending the engineers
with the equipment to build 

temporary crossings.

people may be stuck 

up on the sides of mountains

or down in isolated valleys

but God is using old-fashioned

pack mules and modern drones

to bring medicine, food, water.

cell towers may be out 

but God is still listening to you

and to all those offering prayers.

people may feel cut off 

from neighbors and friends

but God is stuck to them

like velcro.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman