November 15th

“O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
     for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 118:29

when grief is that chill which creeps
into our bones on the hottest day or
those tears which seep into our souls
like raindrops in warped window frames,
there comes a piece of paper
carried by the Spirit, on which God
writes simply, ‘I love you.”
when grief is a pebble in our shoes
which numbs us with every step
or a boulder heavier than
Atlas bore in that old story,
the psalmist nudges us to remember
the love which outlasts
the loneliest of days.
when grief gifts us with
a silence too large to hear
or an absence which is more
than missing that soft breath
which calmed us in the night,
God’s love is that gentle hand
on our shoulders which
simply stays with us,
whether or not we ever become
whole again.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 14th

"He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15

it seems ingrained in us—
expecting mountain shaking
thunder clapping experiences,
which means we miss
the quiet tea-is-brewing
and the cat is purring
and the day hasn’t placed demands
on us moments, when Jesus
puts an arm around us and
with breath as soft at a feather,
asks the-word question which
catches us unawares and then
undoes all those answers we
had jotted down after last time.
yet, Jesus being Jesus, asks,
not to trick or trap or trouble us
but to unlock that door
we have closed over our heart,
so we can remember that
it’s not an answer or a creed
we need to keep close
but simply that shaky hope
that if we take the risk
(especially in these times)
to call him our Christ,
he will still say we are his
beloved.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 13th

“’to her it has been granted to
be clothed
with fine linen, bright and
pure’ --
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
Revelation 19:8

you take the bolt
of cloth off the shelf
and as you slowly roll it out,
you notice the way
in which the threads
have been carefully woven,
that hope we spoke of
in times of fear,
the joy we showered upon
those who were parched
from its drought,
justice for others
that became as dear to us
as the very breath we took
the love we gladly gave away
and grace we wrapped
like shawls for others
and, as you take the shears
handed to you by the Spirit,
you gradually cut out the pattern
which will be a perfect fit
for all chose to live in
your Beloved Community.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 12th

“Offer right sacrifices
   and put your trust in the Lord.” Psalm 4:5

in the sharing of mercy
to someone standing
at the intersection of
Hopelessness and Hunger,
in the quiet conversation
on the bus with the adolescent
wondering how honest they
could be with their parents,
in the painful willingness
to see through our privilege
so we might recognize
the realities which the forgotten
face every single day of their lives,
may we show that we
are willing to trust that
the gifts you give us
have far greater purpose
than just improving our lives.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 11th

 “She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”” Matthew 15:27

some with mournful eyes,
some with weary hearts,
some with hope beating within,
we wait under the table—
hands wide open,
hearts chipped like old bowls—
watching to see if
bits of mercy might fall,
if just a morsel of love
might be brushed off laps.
but you kneel down,
not with cold leftovers,
but with bread made warm
by the Spirit’s breath,
grace with the rich aroma
of home, where the door
stands open to welcome us.
in this world where fences
are put up around abundance,
you whisper,
there is room for everyone
and dash by pinch,
we are offered seats
at that table with no corners,
not because we beg
but because you love.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 10th

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
     the work of human hands.” Psalm 135:15

if only . . .
if only our false god
were made from metals
which could be melted
into wedding rings or candle holders,
or from stone which could
be crushed for sidewalks
or wood which could become
kindling for fires on winter nights
but now, they are not made
from our fingers and hands
but from our fears and prejudices
in fake tans and bitter words,
in calls to rough justice and cruelty,
in uniforms of athletes who think
their skills on playing fields
excuse personal misconduct,
in religious types who would
turn Jesus into some sort
of action figure or superhero
who would rather hunt down 

enemies than gathering them
into the Beloved Community of God.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

November 8th

“Bless the LORD, O my soul.
   O LORD my God, you are very great.” Psalm 104:1

with hands that sign a welcome
and those which shape mud pies.
with feet which stand with the oppressed.
and those which dance under the stars.
with arms which lift little ones to shoulders
and those which carry coffins to gravesides.
with legs which ache from the weariness of years
and those which run to raise money.
with eyes which look for hope on the horizon
and those which see beauty behind wrinkles.
with ears that hear grace in silence
and those that listen to heartache.
with lips that whistle the dog home
and those that kiss the dying goodbye.
with hearts that refuse to hate
and with souls which cradle the forgotten,
we bless you, our God,
we bless you.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman