August 6th

 “He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” Mark 8:34-35

no roadmaps or GPS,
no shortcuts—
that would be easy
and Jesus was too honest
to offer easy.
but that cross
that call to follow,
those are the challenges.
to release our grip
on every attempt to control
every competitive bone,
every well-memorized certainty
and toss them in that bonfire
of grace and hope,
watching life curl up
from the ashes and
seep deep into our souls.
because it may not be
so much about dying
as it is about letting go
of just enough
so we can find life.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman