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

April 25th

“But now you must get rid of all such things - anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth.” Colossians 3:8

and here it is,
the loophole we need.
for if it is typing on a
keyboard, or tapping with
our thumbs,
if it is combining emojis,
finding just the right GIF,
if it is using a meme maker
(oh, better yet, posting one from
a person far more skilled),
or simply sharing a screed,
a whine, a ripping a new one
which popped up in our feed—
we can be as cruel, mean,
hateful, demeaning as
all those folks we condemn
for doing the same thing.
after all,
none of this is coming
from our mouths, is it!

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 24th

“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15

memes meant to offend,
standing before podiums
dressed in certainty, words
polished to fear’s perfections,
our self-proclaimed saviors
strut across our devices, hoping
to tighten a grip on every fearful heart.
yet, quiet as a breeze, persistent as dawn
the cross stands, its laughter
unthreading every imperial lie.
for what tries to crush
is turned inside out,
what is meant to shame
is stripped bare in resurrection life,
for peace disarms violence,
mercy mocks every display of power.
in the slow uprising of hope,
stubbornly weaving through
our streets, our hopes, our hearts,
the victory of love is carried
throughout the world’s brokenness,
grace scattered like confetti
behind the Risen One.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 23rd

"You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." Exodus 20:4

how blessed we are,
God,
that we no longer worship
those idols made of stone,
of wood, of various metals
now seen as artifacts in
museums with little cards
implying how foolish those
ancestors of ours were.
which gives us more
energy and passion and
focus on our devices we
keep in our pockets and
mounted in our cars
so that we are not alone,
who are next to us
as we sleep to keep
watch over us and
to awaken us for any
and every meaningless
text, meme, reel from
our new pantheon of gods -
InstaFaceXSnapTokTube
residing high on Mount Cyber.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 22nd

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;" Colossians 1:15

and now,
we see your face
in the wrinkled skin
of grandparents walking
hand in hand each evening
and in the smiles of immigrant
children moving into a new home.

now,
we feel your hands
in the touch of a nurse
comforting a cancer patient
and in the pat on the back
of a teacher encouraging
a struggling student.

now,
we hear your feet
in those who march
for justice in broken communities,
in those who take part
in relays for life,
in those who walk
to a neighbor's house
to bring a casserole of hope.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 21st

 "The people all answered as one: 'Everything that the LORD has spoken we will do.'" Exodus 19:8

yes, friends,
we do an admirable job
of doing ‘everything,’
don’t we—
except
for those bits about
loving our enemies
and not seeking revenge;
or the prophetic hopes
we might be the justice
pouring through communities
like rampaging rivers;
as well as those 'blessed are'
little phrases that Jesus
tossed about so freely.
we shouldn’t pretend
that Jesus had absolutely
nothing to say about finances.
And no matter how hard the
Influencers try to convince us,
we still have obligations to
welcome the outsiders,
keep a light burning for prodigals,
as well as learning from
those we look down
our noses at.

© © 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 20th

“We have escaped like a bird
   from the snare of the fowler;
the snare is broken
   and we have escaped.” Psalm 124:7

they would place us
in cages with locks,
where we can only flap
our wings, the bars made
out of the fears confining them,
but you come along
and pick the lock
gently reaching in to
cradle us in your hands
as you whisper love
as you breathe peace
as you stroke us with fingers
made soft from the balm of hope
and then
you toss us up
in the air, so
we can spread our wings
and fly in the freedom
of resurrection grace.

© Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 19th

“Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard.” 1st John 2:7

it does not matter who—
composer or novelist,
song writer, poet, teenager,
artists of every media,
every person, every generation
believes they are the first
to have ever experienced . . .
love
but in truth
it is simply
that dust from which
we were created—
the same dust found
in the stars
in our pets
in the air we breathe
yet because we dismiss dust
as inconvenience in life,
no wonder we are so surprised
when we realize how much
we need love to be fully
human.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 18th

“He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" Exodus 17:7

it’s the oldest story
in the Old Book—
we are just never happy,
whatever God does.
given a beautiful garden,
we make creation all about us.
let loose from Pharoah’s cell,
we grumble about our new digs.
offered food without having
to produce or purchase it,
we complain about the use-by date.
having emptied our water bottles,
we moan that God doesn’t care a whit.
and, as usual, we expect someone else
to take our complaints to God.
maybe
if we kept our mouths closed,
but our eyes and ears wide open,
we might finally realize
that we are the only ones
who are turning this relationship
into a test.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 17th

“Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,” 1st Peter 3:14b

the knuckleheads are
at again, keeping
quite busy these days—
strutting around in their self
importance to convince us
we need more walls,
doors that slam shut
via remote gizmos,
a new picture book with
memes which would make
their moms cringe in horror.
so let us simply keep
sharing your
grace
hope
justice
love
compassion
welcome,
making a covenant
with you and others
to keep ignoring
the Department of Silly Fears
(which is what they fear most).

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 16th

“I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” John 15:15

we haven’t earned our way
to the table by being good employees,
we have a seat because
you pulled up chairs
in the dust of our days.
while we scroll past cruelty
looking for memes which seduce,
while we believe mercy
should be rationed carefully,
while we do not see your stories
in the faces we rush past,
you call us friends—
leaning close to share God’s secrets
that love washes feet,
compassion sticks around,
that grace throws away the rules.
to be your friends now
is to forget what separates,
to be a listening heart
in the noise of the world,
to carry each other as if
we were carrying you.
may we learn friendship
as you model it for us—
unconditional,
risk-taking,
a threat to a time which
would turn us all into enemies.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 15th

“The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
     a stronghold in times of trouble.” Psalm 9:9

cracks in hope’s resolve,
children playing in rubble,
folks teetering at exhaustion’s abyss,
so many bruised places, people,
and the Holy One wonders if
we might offer
not walled off fortresses
but unlocked doorways,
where the forgotten are welcomed
with no questions, no ID required.
where three in the morning
trembles are not cured
but held softly in compassion.
for it is that listening ear
which does not rush off,
another chair pulled to the table,
a name recalled after the world
has wiped it from its database—
those small, simple graces
God offers, so we may become
the refuge another needs,
and as we do, we may discover
that we are not the builders
of God’s havens of hope
but simply those who
hold open the doors.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 14th

“Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22

whether we use the
metric or imperial system
we need to realize that
this sort of love is not measured
in inches or centimeters
in ounces or litres.
our hearts are to pour
out love which washes away
the callous words of others,
love which becomes a deep well
where those in broken relationships
may drink deeply of healing,
love which becomes
a river overflowing its banks
to carry away hate and cruelty,
a crystal sea where
foolish actions can be tossed
and swept away
into forgetfulness.
a love so deep
we cannot measure it
no matter how much
we think we should
in order to love properly.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 13th

“We have escaped like a bird
   from the snare of the fowler;
the snare is broken
   and we have escaped.” Psalm 124:7

they would place us
in cages with locks,
where we can only flap
our wings, the bars made
out of the fears confining them,
but you come along
and pick the lock
gently reaching in to
cradle us in your hands
as you whisper love
as you breathe peace
as you stroke us with fingers
made soft from the balm of hope
and then
you toss us up
in the air, so
we can spread our wings
and fly in the freedom
of resurrection grace.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 12th

“But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” John 20:24-25

despite all the shares
of the selfie of Mary
and the gardener,
despite the AI generated
meme of what that locked
room must have looked like,
despite the temptation to join
in the doomscrolling about
what really happened
in the tomb during the night,
Thomas simply wanted
the sort of tangible, touchable,
relatable proof that Jesus
was really Jesus.
because if he came back
with no wrinkles, no wounds,
no weariness on his face, but
with perfect hair, skin, teeth—
well, he obviously wasn’t the one
who had told Thomas about
the way, the truth, the life
and then lived it out completely.

© Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 11th

“The LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.” Exodus 13:21

through
the older couple
picking up trash
on their morning walk,
the coach
who sits the stars
so the scrubs can shine,
the custodian
who does the laundry
of the homeless kids
in the school,
you walk with us
each day;

in the mother
gently holding the hand
of her youngest
recovering from surgery,
in the grandparent
jotting down his memories
in his spidery hand,
in the youth group
delivering sandwiches
and blankets to storm
survivors in a shelter,
you light the way
through the nights.

© Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 10th

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

before
taking your child
by the hand so
you could skip together
into Eden’s new garden,
you turned to that
basilisk curled up
and keeping
is eye on you, and
taking it by
the scruff of the neck,
you drained its venom,
yanked its fangs and
tossed it back into the corner,
where it rests to this day,
toothless
useless
impotent.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 9th

“When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted . . . ‘And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” Mathhew 28:17, 20b

funny?
ironic?
what?
we easily pick and choose
what we agree with—
you castigate the powerful
or call to account the wealthy
and we cheer you on,
but loving our enemies,
that’s where we part ways.
we can scruple with the best,
look at our feet and scuff
the dirt while avoiding your eyes,
find fence-sitting a spiritual gift—
but you,
never waver about us.
and even when we would
drop you in a New York minute,
you stick with us until
the bitter end
and beyond.
funny?
ironic?
what?

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 8th

“After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.” Matthew 28:1

on the first day
of the week,
those who weren’t
gobsmacked into silence
scratched their heads and
looked to google for an answer.
on the second day
of the week,
the entrepreneurs tried
to buy the property for
future development.
on the third day
of the week,
the theologians and
biblical scholars were
developing webinars.
on the fourth day
of the week
the women were
once more being ignored
by everyone not a woman,
while you were gobsmacked,
scratching your head
wondering what else
you had to do for us
to believe in grace.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 7th

“A mixed crowd also went up with them, and livestock in great numbers, both flocks and herds.” Exodus 12:38

if we look for the definition
of grace in your dictionary, God,
maybe we would find
this picture instead—
a motley crew of folks,
some with no pedigrees,
others with no heirloom histories,
just wanderers woven by hope
into that community called chosen.
you didn’t stop them at freedom’s border
to check their lineage or
whether their documents showed
them coming from the right group—
you simply whispered, ‘come.’
and the no-names, the forgotten,
the hesitant with feet
worn by other journeys and
all longing to learn new songs,
as different from one another
as folks can be, but each daring
to journey into a promise
none of them could make
come true on their own.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

April 6th

“So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Mark 16:8

if we could
we would push you back
into the tomb, repoint the stone
and seal it back into place.
but since
you have already proven
that will not work,
we’ll just put you into
that box marked ‘Easter’
along with the plastic eggs,
cute stuffed bunnies, and
some leftover chocolate
(if the pastor didn’t eat it all)
and store you in the back
of the closet, making a note
on our virtual calendar
to let you out next year,
if you promise to stop
scaring us with this nonsense
that death does not have
the final word.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Easter Sunday

“They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” John 20:13

we have taken you away
and made you the keynote speaker
for those who believe power
and wealth are the pillars
of your teachings, as well as
those who advocate for the needy
while buying another house
and increasing their portfolio.
we have taken you away
and hired you to be the
advocate for unjust wars
and the press secretary for
those who talk justice but
whose words turn to dust
when it is time to work
we have taken you away
as far as we can from
your simple gospel of love,
grace, justice, hope, and inclusion,
making it so complicated that
even experts cannot agree—
and all the while,
you are planting gardens
to feed the hungry,
calling the forgotten by name,
teaching children those games
where the only rule is everyone
gets to play on the same team,
and hoping we will eventually
notice where you are.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Dreich Saturday

“I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
   I have become like a broken vessel.” Psalm 31:12

silence
is the only language needed
on this day which sits like a bird
on the fence between heartbreak
and hallelujah.
grief settles into our bones
like a friend moving in for a stay.
there are no stories to tell
no miracles to share on social media,
just the thick, silent, absence
which sucks at our souls like quicksand.
the promises seem to have slipped
through our fingers, like lyrics
to favorite songs we can’t recall.
hope has gone underground, perhaps
behind the stone, where we cannot see.
and yet, like the earth where
even now, unseen life is stirring,
may the silence be but a pause
and not an ending,
a waiting, but never forgetting,
because even in the stillness
God has not stopped working.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Grim Friday

“But this I call to mind,
   and therefore I have hope:” Lamentations 3:21

we stand, not at the foot,
but as far away as we can
trusting your fading sight
cannot see us,
and yet you forgive us.
as the soldiers mock
the religious types cackle
and thunder rolls in the distance
and lightning provides the
only proper lighting,
we keep our mouths shut,
and yet you forgive us.
as you slowly lower your head
and are swaddled
in the chill arms of death,
may we hear the hope
you whisper in that moment:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
is mercies never come to an end;” Lamentations 3:22

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Holy Thursday

"Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’” John 13:7

we’ve been to a lot
of funerals, but we still
don’t know much about death
but we do know a bit about
trying to be faithful in a time
when faithlessness is applauded.
even though we sing and trust
in that promise of Easter,
we still can’t explain resurrection,
but we do know a bit about
trusting God with our lives
even as we enter that dreaded
valley of shadows.
even with the hints and hopes,
if truth be told, we are not sure
where following Jesus will end
but this night reminds us
we are not left alone
on this pilgrimage, even
when it looks like we are.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

Holy Wednesday

"Jesus said to him, 'Do quickly what you are going to do.'” John 13:27b

the days, months, years,
even generations it takes
to get that immovable object
called injustice to budge just a bit.
the process we can create
so that by the time a task force
appointed and charged to improve
school systems releases a rough draft,
the kids have already graduated.
gee, it’s funny how time slips away
when we are asked to care
for others, for creation, for the forgotten
but
turning our backs on you
saying we don’t know you
claiming we have no idea
who you are or what you’re doing?
that only takes a moment
any moment
every moment.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman