Fifth Friday in Lent

"I will tell of your name to my
   brothers and sisters;
in the midst of the
   congregation I will praise you:"  Psalm 22:22

all the parties
i no longer
get invited to,
all the kids
standing in front
of their lockers
snickering at me.
all the teachers who whisper,
'he had such potential,
what happened?'
it's as if i have
a 'kick me'
sign
on my back.
if i mention
your name,
people fall down
laughing.
if i don't,
another hole
burns in my soul.
like fawkes,
i dissolve
into ashes, yet
come back
again and again.
your words
keep spilling
out of my
mouth,
no matter
how hard i try
to put padlocks
and chains
around them.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Fifth Thursday in Lent

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now;" Romans 8:22

resistant
to directions,
we are pretty
sure
we don't need
to be shown the
way out
of our shadows.
we tap our
pencil
against our
teeth, eager
for the test
to be over so
we can
get to the
fun part
of life.
groaning
under our breath,
nervously drumming
our fingers on the
wheel, we
try to change
the signal by
sheer
concentration.
give us
the
patience
to wait for
your hope
to come,
just around the
corner
of our faith.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Fourth Wednesday in Lent

"The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him." Jeremiah 18:4

the fingers
that unfolded
butterflies' wings
and waved goodbye
to them
now smooth
the wrinkles
of our souls.
those hands
callused by
shaping craggy
mountains
now gently
caress us into
being.
that breath
which melted
glaciers
into blue-green
oceans
now fills
our lungs
with life
as you
craft us
into earthenware
vessels
to hold
the dreams
of others.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Fourth Tuesday in Lent

"But he said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.'” John 6:20

fear

comes as a spider

weaving its threads

of conspiracies and lies

into a web just waiting 

to snare us while it slowly

creeps toward us to suck

all our humanity out of us.

fear

sounds like those ancient sirens 

sitting just on the

edge of our journey 

through these difficult times,

singing sweet, alluring songs

hoping to lure us from 

staying the course towards

compassion, justice, and hope.

fear

is a decaying past

we are told we need

to keep alive at all costs,

no matter how damaging

it was to so many people.

so, 

may we take you deep

into our hearts and souls

that we might not trust fear

more than we trust you.

(c) 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Fourth Monday in Lent

"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" John 6:9

the half-empty
bottle
of water
we toss into
the waste can
at work.
the ends
of the
bread
we let turn
moldy in
the fridge.
the veggies
we leave
on our plate
at the restaurant,
so we have room
for dessert.
the compassion
we toss
into the coin
jar on top
of our dresser
at the end
of the day.
our simple gifts
could make
such a feast
of
hope,
healing, and
grace
for others if
we would only
put them in your
hands.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Fourth Sunday in Lent

And he cautioned them, saying, "Watch out -- beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." Mark 8:15

may the warmth
of your living waters
be just
what those the
world leaves out
in the cold
need.

may the saltiness
of your tears
bring
healing to
the wounds
of those
pierced by
hatred.

may the gentleness
of your touch
knead the sore
muscles
of those whose
backs are
stiffened by
12-hour shifts
in oncology
units.
may the yeast
of your justice
enable us
to rise and
feed the
hungry outcasts
all around us.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Fourth Saturday in Lent

"Teach me to do your will,
   for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
   on a level path." Psalm 143:10

i could
tail temptation
down the
blind alleys
of its
maze.
i could
follow the
pride piper
until
caught in
that trap
i would never
escape.
i could
let death
coach me
on every
wrinkle
in its
playbook.
or
i could let
you
guide me
into grace.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman