June 29th

"As he turned away to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all these signs were fulfilled that day.” 1 Samuel 10:9

we need to stop
hoping for lightning
or a word in a homily
or even a love letter
sealed with red wax.
sometimes it is just
a breath as soft as
a mother leaning over
a new born in a stable,
or bread handed to us
from perfect strangers,
and then,
something we have clung
to so tight slips away
like a shadow at night,
and a new heart—
not hollow
but filled with hope,
not shallow
but deep in compassion,
not perfect
but open to possibility,
not proud,
but beating with humility,
and we know we can go
to let it break for others.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman