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