August 24th

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

no more tats signifying
which gang we’ve joined,
no more voting registrations
indicating our political party,
no more tribal name tags
sewn onto our souls,
no more heavy labels
slapped on us saying,
‘if found, return to owner.’
now,
in every place of holiness
where bread is broken
and in every pub and eatery
where strangers cheer on teams
and sing songs known by all,
our stories are woven together
like the cast of a play,
our lives are no longer categories
but birth certificates showing
we are not strangers
or outsiders or shadows,
but light, kin, siblings
in that family made up
of more people than
all the stars in the night
or the grains of sand on the beach.
God’s beloved.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman