June 22nd

"Then they arrived at the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on shore, a man from the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had not worn any clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.” Luke 8:26-27

we know what it is like
to live in that far country
our Sunday School teachers
warned us about,
that other side of the tracks
where we are so broken,
so bruised, so damaged by life
we no longer know who we are.
where we wander among the tombstones
of fear, of anger, of grudges, of loneliness.
where those voices constantly whisper,
‘you’re worthless
you’re right where you belong
no one is coming to help you.’
then a boat lands, and you
step out on the shore, coming
to meet us, not flinching, but
simply asking our name,
and reminding us
there is no country too far
no one so lost
no damage so severe
that grace will not find us.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: Thom-Shuman