May 23rd

“For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17

it has nothing to do
with pastries or programs,
it is not about what
Aunt Martha brings to the potluck
or who brews the best coffee –
it is the tangy taste of grace
lingering on our tongues.
because the Beloved Community
is not found in recipes or doctrines,
but in our common humanity,
relationships built on trust,
peace which whispers in silence,
joy bursting into our cloistered hearts
when we thought it could never happen
again.
after all, it’s at that table designed
by an imaginative mind,
crafted by a master carpenter,
the grain in the wood almost breathing.
a table where everyone –
that’s right – everyone – finds a place.
so sit down, pass the bread,
fill your neighbor’s glass with hope,
for where life is served,
Love is the party-giver.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman