December 20th

"For he delivers the needy when they call,
    the poor and those who have no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
    and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
    and precious is their blood in his sight." Psalm 72:12-14

we long to hear the footfalls
of compassion from those
in power in our time, but they
stomp around in their hubris and might.
so as we wait in this waiting time,
come
to those small places where cries
slip through the cracks of our apathy.
come
to the ones whose backup plan is simply hope,
to children who learn to offer their fears
in prayer before they can give thanks,
to the exhausted who feast of loneliness.
come,
not because they are so needy
but because they are so loved by you.
come,
because your sole role in life
is to carry the broken,
to unclench fists of violence,
to restore those we write off.
come,
because every life is treasured
every breath is sacred
every brokenness is cradled.
come,
so we might wait
not with closed souls and hands
but with open eyes and hearts,
so we might see justice
wrapped around a refugee baby,
discover love walking our neighborhoods,
hear hope crying out,
and we might be the answer.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman