November 24th

“They scoff and speak with malice;
   loftily they threaten oppression.
They set their mouths against heaven,
   and their tongues range over the earth.” Psalm 73:8-9

strutting around as if the very sky
was woven from their bragging,
they let their words drift like
unwanted whispers into
the ears of the weary.
pushing past the humble and the hurting,
their tongues tiptoe down alleys
where mercy never goes.
yet,
uncertain and insignificant,
we will try to stand, letting
the noise of their certainty
pass us like a chill breeze,
and in the silence which follows,
we are reminded that no boasting
can deafen your whisper of hope,
no shadow casting pride
can overcome your light of love.
so, slowly, steadily, faithfully,
we will draw in deep breaths of grace,
taking assurance in your promise
that, however loud and enticing,
every lie will crumble like dust
and every arrogant voice
will fall silent before your Word.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 23rd

”Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7

it is not that hard.
take some of the oil
of mercy and lubricate
those rusty hinges
of our hearts so
that they open easily.
grab a broom, and sweep off
all those fears which litter
the sidewalks which lead
to the front porch of our souls
so that strangers won’t trip.
take a skein of compassion
and another of hope, and knit
a soft shawl to drape around
those too used to shivering
from all the cold shoulders
offered to them by the world.
hospitality doesn’t have to be perfect,
after all, Jesus stood there,
dust covering his callused feet,
the wind tangling his hair,
waving over that ragtag bunch
of weary and wandering pilgrims
which included us, inviting us
to rest and breathe in
the grace of God.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 22nd

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’
   And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’
   And let everyone who is thirsty come.
   Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” Revelation 22:17

come,
you who have heard only
insults all your life,
who have listened to loved ones
say you are worthless,
all who have had your fill
of anger, hate, and bitterness.
come,
all whose hearts have cracked
because of love’s balm being withheld,
you whose soul is parched
because no one shared cups of grace,
anyone who has known decades of drought
from the refreshing rivers of joy being dammed up.
come,
the broken, the young, the forgotten
the weary, the slumped over, the footsore pilgrims
the rough sleepers, the tough-as-nails weepers.
come,
all of God’s beloved
who never tasted love before,
come.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 21st

 "Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:10

when we park
in the space
reserved for the
disabled (we'll
only be acoupleofminutes).
when we join
in the jibes
about 'slow' Jane
at work.
when we power up
our windows
when the homeless
veteran
looks at our car.
when we want
the borders closed
out of nothing
more than fear.
angels
wipe away
the tears
streaming down
God's face.

© Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 20th

“Its gates will never be shut by day — and there will be no night there.” Revelation 21:25

if we were the architects,
the engineers, the city planners,
the new City would have just one entrance,
the borders patrolled by icy-eyed folks,
maybe even a moat with some critters
that are always looking for snacks.
but you,
in your foolish naivete,
craft a front door for the broken
as well as a wicket for the braggarts,
a revolving door for the knuckleheads
and a gate for newbies in faith ,
a kissing gate for all the lovers
and a pet door for all rainbow bridge crossers,
a turnstile for all the muggles
and a tardis for all who love time,
an ingress, a portal, a hatch,
for everyone we would try to keep out
and none of them ever shut or locked,
and the light always left on.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-M. Shuman

November 19th

“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
    which cannot be moved, but abides forever.” Psalm 125:1

when we choose to trust
in God, we become
like trees providing shade
to the weary pilgrims around us,
dropping leaves for children
to gather up in big piles
to then jump in with delight,
to be a sanctuary for all
chased by fears and worries.
when we choose to trust God,
we find our roots sinking deep
into the good earth of grace,
we lift our heads to the sky
to drink deeply of joy’s sweet nectar,
we stretch out our arms
so we can share hope
with all those around us.
when we choose to trust,
we move into that heart
which has room for all of us.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 18th

“Death will be no more;
    mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
    for the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

when the last shadow stops following us,
the ache in the back releases it’s grip,
then—
soft as that first morning’s breath—
a hush will fall, and those quiet promises
we had forgotten will embrace us.
no waxed jacket of sorrow,
no quicksand of grief in our path,
those tears which grew heavier
each long night will be held
in hands which know our every grief.
fractured hearts will be mended,
the bitter wine of despair
turned into the water of life,
and our weary world will let out a breath
as those things which were a priority
disappear.
and where
light will never fade,
joy will teach us to slow dance,
and hope will hum the tune,
we will learn the music of God’s forever,
as we are cradled in that peace
we only ever caught a glimpse of
out of the corner of our eyes
before death slunk away in defeat.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 15th

“O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
     for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 118:29

when grief is that chill which creeps
into our bones on the hottest day or
those tears which seep into our souls
like raindrops in warped window frames,
there comes a piece of paper
carried by the Spirit, on which God
writes simply, ‘I love you.”
when grief is a pebble in our shoes
which numbs us with every step
or a boulder heavier than
Atlas bore in that old story,
the psalmist nudges us to remember
the love which outlasts
the loneliest of days.
when grief gifts us with
a silence too large to hear
or an absence which is more
than missing that soft breath
which calmed us in the night,
God’s love is that gentle hand
on our shoulders which
simply stays with us,
whether or not we ever become
whole again.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 14th

"He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15

it seems ingrained in us—
expecting mountain shaking
thunder clapping experiences,
which means we miss
the quiet tea-is-brewing
and the cat is purring
and the day hasn’t placed demands
on us moments, when Jesus
puts an arm around us and
with breath as soft at a feather,
asks the-word question which
catches us unawares and then
undoes all those answers we
had jotted down after last time.
yet, Jesus being Jesus, asks,
not to trick or trap or trouble us
but to unlock that door
we have closed over our heart,
so we can remember that
it’s not an answer or a creed
we need to keep close
but simply that shaky hope
that if we take the risk
(especially in these times)
to call him our Christ,
he will still say we are his
beloved.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 13th

“’to her it has been granted to
be clothed
with fine linen, bright and
pure’ --
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
Revelation 19:8

you take the bolt
of cloth off the shelf
and as you slowly roll it out,
you notice the way
in which the threads
have been carefully woven,
that hope we spoke of
in times of fear,
the joy we showered upon
those who were parched
from its drought,
justice for others
that became as dear to us
as the very breath we took
the love we gladly gave away
and grace we wrapped
like shawls for others
and, as you take the shears
handed to you by the Spirit,
you gradually cut out the pattern
which will be a perfect fit
for all chose to live in
your Beloved Community.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 12th

“Offer right sacrifices
   and put your trust in the Lord.” Psalm 4:5

in the sharing of mercy
to someone standing
at the intersection of
Hopelessness and Hunger,
in the quiet conversation
on the bus with the adolescent
wondering how honest they
could be with their parents,
in the painful willingness
to see through our privilege
so we might recognize
the realities which the forgotten
face every single day of their lives,
may we show that we
are willing to trust that
the gifts you give us
have far greater purpose
than just improving our lives.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 11th

 “She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”” Matthew 15:27

some with mournful eyes,
some with weary hearts,
some with hope beating within,
we wait under the table—
hands wide open,
hearts chipped like old bowls—
watching to see if
bits of mercy might fall,
if just a morsel of love
might be brushed off laps.
but you kneel down,
not with cold leftovers,
but with bread made warm
by the Spirit’s breath,
grace with the rich aroma
of home, where the door
stands open to welcome us.
in this world where fences
are put up around abundance,
you whisper,
there is room for everyone
and dash by pinch,
we are offered seats
at that table with no corners,
not because we beg
but because you love.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 10th

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
     the work of human hands.” Psalm 135:15

if only . . .
if only our false god
were made from metals
which could be melted
into wedding rings or candle holders,
or from stone which could
be crushed for sidewalks
or wood which could become
kindling for fires on winter nights
but now, they are not made
from our fingers and hands
but from our fears and prejudices
in fake tans and bitter words,
in calls to rough justice and cruelty,
in uniforms of athletes who think
their skills on playing fields
excuse personal misconduct,
in religious types who would
turn Jesus into some sort
of action figure or superhero
who would rather hunt down 

enemies than gathering them
into the Beloved Community of God.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 8th

“Bless the LORD, O my soul.
   O LORD my God, you are very great.” Psalm 104:1

with hands that sign a welcome
and those which shape mud pies.
with feet which stand with the oppressed.
and those which dance under the stars.
with arms which lift little ones to shoulders
and those which carry coffins to gravesides.
with legs which ache from the weariness of years
and those which run to raise money.
with eyes which look for hope on the horizon
and those which see beauty behind wrinkles.
with ears that hear grace in silence
and those that listen to heartache.
with lips that whistle the dog home
and those that kiss the dying goodbye.
with hearts that refuse to hate
and with souls which cradle the forgotten,
we bless you, our God,
we bless you.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 7th

Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." Matthew 14:16

when
it seems so easy
to throw obscene amounts
of money at those who already
have far more than they could
ever spend in 20 lifetimes
but claim we cannot find
any funds to be able
to feed those whose situations
are beyond heartbreaking.
when we turn out the lights
and close the drapes
hoping that the needy
will think no one is home.
when we put on the outdoor sign
“sorry, but empathy is toxic’
so that everyone will get the message,
remind us
that there is no need
you
we
i
cannot fill.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 6th

“For you do not give me up to Sheol,
   or let your faithful one see the Pit.” Psalm 16:10

yes, the shadows lengthen
seeming to hide the end of the path.
yes, the alleluias seem to echo
in some distant corner of my soul,
yet, your lullaby of resurrection
slips through the cracks in that stone
i have rolled into place to bury my doubts.
Keeper of those promises
we have either forgotten or
no longer think we can trust,
you will not let the dust of death
cover our souls with silence,
for your grace has a longer reach
than the deepest grave
and your tenacious love
refuses to let go of us—
even when we release our grip.
so, continue to whisper life
into the shadows as they lengthen
once more.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 5th

“The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world — he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” Revelation 12:9

that serpent who whispers
in our ears, “God says you
are not good enough”
will be tossed into the bin
by little kids who choose
the forgotten to be on their team.
that deceiver who breathes fire
into all the dinging notifications,
trying to sell cruelty as empathy
and fear as true patriotism
will be hurled out of its cave
by all the women laboring hope.
for every time we choose love,
every time we lift the fallen,
every time we welcome the refugee,
every time we forgive without being asked
that old liar takes a fall.
friends,
let us live as those
who have seen the dragon
take a pratfall,
and heard soft laughter
of heaven rising to the sky.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 4th

“These things I remember,
     as I pour out my soul:” Psalm 42:4

may i never forget
you always finding me
no matter how good
i think i am at hide-and-seek,
waking up in the middle
of the night afraid
to open my eyes
until i hear your gentle
breathing from the corner,
your stubbornness in never
giving up on me, however
persistent i am in turning
my back on you,
your leaning over to listen
every time i cry out to you
even if it is the same words
every time.
if i ever forget,
have mercy
and never forget me.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 3rd

“The voice of the LORD
   shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the
   wilderness of Kadesh. Psalm 29:8

when the soft sobs
of hungry children
crying themselves to sleep
interrupt our midnight snacking,
when the whispered memories
of those who are once again
playing childhood games
with friends no longer
on this side of grace
follow us down the corridors
of retirement communities,
when the longings
of immigrant families
cause cracks in
judgmental hearts,
your voice, O God,
shatters the wilderness
of our apathy.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

 

November 2nd

“Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:31

in dog walkers
and street hawkers,
in rough sleepers
and mythological innkeepers.
in tax collectors watching
from tree branches,
and neighborhood kids
cleaning up yards after storms.
in all
who put up with us
and those who nudge us,
in the ones who chase
after you with abandon
and folks who drag
their doubts like luggage.
in the grandfather
who lives just around the corner
and the nana sheltering
neighborhood kids in a
war-torn town,
we find your
Beloved Community
in all the wrong places
we never thought to visit
and in all the wrong people
we never deem worthy.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 1st

“He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” Matthew 13:33

it is like seeing a video of my Mom,
as you slip into that faded apron,
sprinkle grace on the tabletop
as well as your hands
and gently begin to knead
your Beloved Community into
the dense dough of our lives.
it is there where we often don’t notice—
corners of a kitchen
curled up like a sleepy cat,
the booth echoing with laughter
of a group of aging girlfriends,
in the soft touch of a weary nurse.
there’s no DJ amped music,
no ‘breaking news’ dings,
no shouts of OMG!
just that slow proofing
as hope begins to ferment,
as justice begins to take shape,
as the texture of love swells
into that bread broken
so all might be fed new life.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman