October 23rd

“I remember the days of old,
    I think about all your deeds,
    I meditate on the works of your hands.” Psalm 143:5

i sort through those
old pictures, of you watching
me pedal away, as you hold
life’s training wheels you just removed.
i gaze up at the sky
and notice the same stars
you painted on my ceiling
that summer, before heading
downstairs to put the patches
on the jeans i ripped playing
all day long with friends.
i thumb through the diary
i kept in those years when
i pushed every envelope and
tested every boundary you had.
i remember
your persistent patience,
your limitless love,
your full-blown forgiveness
and know, as if it were yesterday,
that you are always with me.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 22nd

“’Where, O death, is your victory?
     Where, O death, is your sting?’” 1 Corinthians 15:55

once
you pushed your way
through shadows of war,
you stuffed your pockets
with IOU bills we foolishly signed,
you sat outside rooms as
families were saying goodbyes
to those they loved.
but now?
now, the door is ripped off its hinges,
now, flowers bloom in rubble,
now, we hear our names whispered
by the one who sat in your bitter chill.
your sting?
now
it bounces off our souls.
your victory?
now
it slips back into the shadows
where you sit in loneliness,
for your once untouchable power
has been reduced to dust
by the laughter of Love.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 21st

 “’Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” Matthew 11:28

if your heart has
been shattered into a
jigsaw puzzle which could
never be put together,
come.
if your soul is
rubbed so raw that
no amount of healing balm
will ever cause new skin
to cover the wound,
come.
if your back is creaking
and your shoulders
bowed forwards by more grief
than anyone can imagine,
come,
and i will cradle you in
my grace,
my love,
my hope,
my peace,
my life
for however long
you need.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 20th

He chose our heritage for us,
   the pride of Jacob whom
   he loves. Psalm 47:4

peace,
not power;
hope,
not hatred;
kindness,
not killing;
grace,
not crudeness;
justice,
not oppression;
generosity,
not greed,
these are our
heirlooms.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 19th

During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. Acts 16:9-10

(far too) often,
we stand on
the corner, thinking
we have to wait
for the signal to change to
Walk
before we dare
to take hope, grace,
peace, and life
to those who are
waving their emptiness
at us on the
other side.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 18th

“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:13-14

if not,
there would be no
blush in any sunrise,
dreams would drift away
like smoke on the wind,
faith would be nothing
but idle gossip,
the grave would be scarier
than all the movies combined.
but—
someone shoved a stone,
our names were whispered,
and despite its damaged wing,
hope took flight to spread
the good news to those
who stayed home that morning.
so, whether we preach, sing,
mumble with parched throats,
we do not live in vain, for
even when days are grim
or shadows threaten to win,
resurrection’s seeds are deep
within us, just waiting
to blossom.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 17th

Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

in the fellow who carves
out time in his busy travels
to have breakfast with
a rarely seen friend.
in the neighborhood curmudgeon
who spent years making
comments and remarks
about his wife over the years
and now faithfully pushes her
down the sidewalk so she
can visit friends every day.
in the staff and housemates
who gather on a cool afternoon
behind the group home
to watch as a tree is planted
in memory of a resident’s
mom,

the gospel
is still
proclaimed.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 16th

“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Matthew 10:40

forget the 76 trombones—
pick up a kazoo and
start a band for the little kids.
no need to run out
and buy a new mat
for the front door,
stand on the porch
and chat with the folks
who are walking by.
one doesn’t have to set
up a big block party,
simply share a sandwich
with the lonely lady
sitting on the park bench.
we don’t have to pay
for a sign on a hot air balloon
and spend a ton on advertising,
we simply open our hearts—
which may be the hardest
choice we may ever make.

© 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman