October 25th

“But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3

oh my, do we know the way to Tarshish—
it is programmed in our virtual maps,
it is number one in our speed dial,
we could get there with our eyes closed,
for it is anywhere but where
you long for us to go.
we dash into our to-do lists,
we lodge in our certain opinions,
we slide into our comfortable worship
hoping no one will mention the unlovable,
we cross to the other side of the street
to avoid that neighbor whose politics trouble us,
that stranger we eye warily,
the hungry with their cardboard signs,
the broken with tears that a whale
could swim in.
we travel as far as we can
from those who offend us,
those we just cannot bring ourselves
to offer forgiveness,
all who just weary us to death.
yet, you persist in calling us—
not to the safety the world offers
but into that gathering storm
where compassion waits,
where grace has our name on it,
where your love will drench us.
so, when we go to the travel agent
to book a cruise away from your heart,
turn us around, that we might discover
those we think we need to flee from
are the very ones through whom
you are running toward us.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 24th

“Woe is me! For I have become like one who,
   after the summer fruit has been gathered,
after the vintage has been gleaned,
   finds no cluster to eat;
there is no first-ripe fig for which I hunger.” Micah 7:1

that hollow ache is deep in us—
for just a little peace for frazzled fears,
kindness to soften anger’s voices,
that truth not yet twisted to feed
the egos of the politicians.
we hunger for bread
yet the world’s tables groan with plenty
we yearn for justice while
the powerful devour privilege,
we long for relationships while
scrolling past the lonely hoping
someone will notice us
this ache, this emptiness, this
hunger is older than any prophet—
searching for fruit among empty branches
maybe the world does have
more than enough to feed us,
but we seek that which truly
nourishes our famished souls,
so come, all who are hungry
to God’s table with the bread of mercy,
cups overflowing with justice,
and love never reaches
a use-by date.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 23rd

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

today,
may we dare to do justice—
standing with those shoved aside
by the powerful and the privileged,
setting more chairs at those tables
for those who have never felt welcomed;
today,
may we dare to love kindness—
not simply a sticker on a car
or a imprinted t-shirt, but
as mercy offered unconditionally,
as bread share generously,
as forgiveness opening locked hearts;
today,
may we walk humbly with God—
not running ahead proclaiming
all of the answers, but stumbling
with all those who falter,
not offering unwanted advice, but
listening for that still, small voice
which always whispers, ‘love everyone.’
for God’s Beloved Community
doesn’t arrive when everyone is right,
but when we all do what is right—
one stance for justice,
one breath of kindness,
one step of humility at a time,
so that, by the grace of God,
hope finds feet.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 22nd

“But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
   who are one of the little clans of Judah,” Micah 5:2a

coming from a backwater
everyone avoided if they could,
growing up in a village not mentioned
even once in your Old Book,
no wonder you spent time
wandering around with folks
who were diminished by the rest
of society for any, and every
reason imaginable and un—
the little kids everyone tried to block,
the least likely women in any town,
the last person picked for a team,
the lost ones wandering forgotten
even by those who claimed
to love them to infinity and beyond.
maybe we have had it
all wrong, Jesus our sibling,
perhaps your middle initial
is not H but actually L—
for

your birthplace,
your heritage,
your true heart.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 21st

“they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
   and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
   neither shall they learn war any more;” Micah 4:3b

true,
we may not carry guns
but oh, the damage we do
with the finger pointing out
all the mistakes another makes.
we do not walk around with swords,
but have you seen the wounds
we can inflict with just
a simple word of judgment,
that subtle thrust of cruelty?
we don’t hurl spears
at anyone these days,
but with those small devices
we carry in our palms,
the sharpened points of
every platform on social media
serves the same purpose today.
remind us, Gentle God,
that we still learn war today,
we just don’t notice it
because it does not fit
the image we have carried
around from all the movies
we watched so long ago.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 20th

“Do not drag me away with the wicked,
     with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
     while mischief is in their hearts.” Psalm 28:3

they just will not leave us
alone.
knocking on our door,
paired with their partner in clone,
smiling broadly, wanting only
a few minutes of our time—
to try to convince us that
wickedness is the new faith,
that cruelty is the best thing
to come along since sliced bread,
that we certainly want to get in
on the ground floor of buying
shares in cryptopeace,
all while planning new tricks
to play on those who have
already signed on the dotted line,
rubbing their hands gleefully
in anticipation of the bonuses
they will get if they meet their quota.
so not-so-gently, take our hands
and help us to slam the door
in the faces of these drones of disaster
and listen to your heart which
shows us the way to life which
is filled with grace, love, and hope.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

October 19th

I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob,
   I will gather the survivors of Israel;
I will set them together
   like sheep in a fold,
like a flock in its pasture;
   it will resound with people. Micah 2:12

maybe it is the 2 or 3
gathering together.
it could be those
‘hidden righteous ones’
who are scattered only
you know where, O God.
perhaps it is the little kids
on every playground
who make up new games
or even different rules
so everyone can play.
it might even be the woman
who sits on her apartment patio
and casually smiles and greets
everyone who strolls by
even if they never respond.
but in the world where the angry
seem to dominate social media,
in this time when bitterness
has polluted almost every relationship,
in these moments when folks wonder
if there is any decency, justice,
compassion, or grace anymore,
remind us that you always keep
a remnant close to your heart
who will bring the healing of us all.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman