February 9th

“How long will you judge unjustly
   and show partiality to the wicked?” Psalm 82:2

gripping the gavel with white knuckles,
you lean forward from the bench
to ask us the question we hope
you will never ask—
‘how long?’
how long will we dress power
in fancy suits and black robes
and claim it is justice, while
the forgotten hear the sound
of the doors clanging shut behind them,
while truth is removed from
the courtrooms by masked agents?
how long will we keep tilting the scales
until the weight is sufficient for our needs
simply because evil flatters us
with names a lover would use?
how long, God asks,
not with thundering judgement
but in that heartbroken voice
of parents who see their kids
choosing shadows over
the unrewarding work of being light
how long—
before judgment remembers mercy
and the arrogant learn to kneel?

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman