May 2nd

 "'You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" But I say to you,'" Matthew 5:38-39a

perhaps it is the
eye which sees
the other as enemy
which we need to
pluck out,
maybe it is the
tooth we would use
to bite another with
our hate which we
need to extract,
might it be the hand
we easily use to push
away those who only
want justice from us
which we need to lose.
indeed, we would do well
to listen to your words
rather than the taunts,
the boasts, the cruelty
of all around us.
what say you, Jesus?

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

May 1st

"But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me." Psalm 49:15

we will sit at the table,
sharing tea together,
telling of what has
been going on in our lives,
laughing at old jokes,
fighting over the very
last sandwich, and sharing
one final scone slathered
with cream and jam.
then brushing off
the crumbs and leaving
an extra-large tip
for all the staff, we
will walk outside, standing
side by side in the light mist,
until the bus pulls up
and i board, beginning
that trip through the
falling shadows on that
road which ends at
the other side of grace,
as i turn to wave goodbye
to death.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 30th

"Father of orphans and protector of widows
   is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5

you open the shelter door
for the battered women
and their kids, so they find
safe lodgings and hope,
you gather the little girls
who the rigidly religious
believe have no right
to an education, and hand
them books from your library,
you use the app on your phone
to order rides for all the adolescents
who found a suitcase on the
front porch and the locks changed
so they can come and stay
at your place for as long
as they might need.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 29th

"Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; he called it the tent of meeting . . . Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." Exodus 33:7, 11a

like those blankets donated
to the local animal shelter
because we grew too old,
too grown up to toss them
over chairs and furniture
to create indoor tents,
it is in those faded pictures
in our minds that we remember
you as that friend who laughed
at our silliness and listened intently
to the deep longings of our hearts
which we could only share with you.
yet, in that gentle silence
in a restaurant booth with
that old friend who doesn’t
expect every moment
to be filled with sound,
or in the stillness of a cemetery
where a widow goes every afternoon
to tell her lifelong love
about the trivialities of her day
so she doesn’t have to think
about that grief which shadows
her in every moment,
we meet you face to face,
old friend.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 28th

"'You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.'" Matthew 5:14

no need to look for you
where the black tie and
fancy gown crowd gathers—
you are in the shadowed alleys
where the forgotten huddle
longing for that tiny beam
of grace you bring with you.
it is not in the hallways of power
under the bright lights of media
where you wander—
but in those straits of life
where hope is blockaded
by the privileged of the world.
in every shadow of worry,
under every rock which we use
to try to hide ourselves,
in the lengthy evening of dread
creeping across the lawns
of every soul in every place,
you try to create that
Beloved Community of hope,
of grace, of inclusion, of justice,
praying we might bring
our lights to merge with yours.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 27th

"And the LORD changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people." Exodus 32:14

we gather up the dry branches
of our fears to use as kindling
for fires we love so much
we give them names, as we
idolize those golden things
others create in hopes we will trust.
anger trembles at the very edge
of our hearts, longing to spill over—
yet forgiveness lingers longer.
in these days, when so many
are quick to harden their souls,
you choose, once more,
to turn—
not away
but toward us.
so,
teach us this holy pause
which keeps the fist unclenched,
which softens harsh words,
and opens tomorrow
to possibilities
beyond our closed minds.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 26th

"Praise the LORD, all you nations!
    Extol him, all you peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!” Psalm 117

in
the dandelions
which delight the bees
each spring (and annoy
lawn care purists).
in
the little kids
who could spend hours
dancing in water sprinklers
(and the parents who
tolerate wet clothes
scattered all over the house).
in
the mama birds
who keep an eye out
for dangers
(and the older folks
watching from their
retirement, remembering
doing the same thing).
in
the barren trees
we thought would need
to be cut down
(and the tree trimmers
who turn off their chainsaws
when they spot new growth
we failed to see).

your creation endures forever!

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman