October 10th

“You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your power and in the multitude of your warriors,” Hosea 10:13

we use injustice as our plow,
sowing seeds of fear,
and then wonder why only sorrow grows.
we make sure anger’s thistles
receive as much water as needed,
and build fences as high as we can
to keep the outsiders out.
we place trust in might,
use wealth to wield power,
cling to the certainty
of those truths we create—
while the soils of our souls
hardens and cracks from
the drought of compassion.
still
you hand out seeds of grace
showing us a better way to plant—
sowing kindness not cruelty,
scattering justice not oppression,
planting peace in war’s fallow fields
continue to turn us, God,
that what we dare to plant
might be worthwhile for the community
you imagine for all your people.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman 
Venmo: @Thom-Shuman