January 3rd

“He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.” 1 Kings 19:11-12

surrounded by thousands
we will crane our necks to the sky
to watch fabulous fireworks, but
cannot look up from our devices
to catch the delight on Nana’s face
as she blows out the candles
on her 90th birthday cake.
we don the helmets and vests
and climb into the raft to hang on
for dear life in the whitewater river,
but sit on the porch with a book
while the kids beg us to run
through the sprinklers with them.
we turn up the volume
so we can hear every angry word,
every bitter syllable uttered
by our favorite podcaster,
politician, influencer, whoever—
but our legs start to bounce
and we begin to drum our fingers
on the nearest surface whenever
you invite us to listen to the
sheer silence of grace.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman