“"When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.” Matthew 6:7
bands play polished mercies,
leaders recast grief as slogans,
endless blessings nobody can touch
scroll down our screens,
and even prayer seems eager
for applause, yet you,
God of 2:00 a.m. phone calls
and kitchens serving the homeless
while the privileged sleep,
you listen to every weary breath
not well-rehearsed tongues,
you pay no attention to holy words
trying to build stairways to heaven.
you hear the mother who can
only whisper ‘help me.’
you hear the widower holding
grief’s silence like a chipped mug.
you hear children of war asking
the same fearful questions.
so, perhaps that is our lesson—
to stop filling the air with
emptiness we rehearse
until our speech is perfect
but
to let truth run barefoot,
to know that hope needs
hands, not just a pat on the back,
that love will always be heard
even if all we can do
is whisper it in our souls.
© 2026 Thom M. Shuman
Venmo: @Thom M. Shuman
Tuesday, May 05, 2026
Monday, May 04, 2026
May 4th
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” 1st Thessalonians 4:13
in that shadowy room of absence
we sit, our hands wrapped around
those memories which ache with warmth,
but we do not sit alone.
our tears are caught in the palms
of the One who stands beside graves
and calls love to return to the light.
for even now,
crushed by sorrow’s burden,
hope tiptoes quietly—
like dawn which refuses
the caress of the longest night.
for the ones who have crossed
to the other side of grace
are not forgotten by God,
and however loud grief echoes
in our empty souls,
it does not have the last word.
because love always remembers,
mercy keeps watch,
and the Shepherd walks gently,
resurrection cupped in scarred hands
like a candle lighting the way
through every shadowed valley.
© 2026 Thom M. Shuman
Venmo: @Thom M. Shuman
in that shadowy room of absence
we sit, our hands wrapped around
those memories which ache with warmth,
but we do not sit alone.
our tears are caught in the palms
of the One who stands beside graves
and calls love to return to the light.
for even now,
crushed by sorrow’s burden,
hope tiptoes quietly—
like dawn which refuses
the caress of the longest night.
for the ones who have crossed
to the other side of grace
are not forgotten by God,
and however loud grief echoes
in our empty souls,
it does not have the last word.
because love always remembers,
mercy keeps watch,
and the Shepherd walks gently,
resurrection cupped in scarred hands
like a candle lighting the way
through every shadowed valley.
© 2026 Thom M. Shuman
Venmo: @Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, May 03, 2026
May 3rd
"Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6
it doesn’t require a praise band,
just some kids singing made up
songs at bath time.
we don’t need someone
with a degree in music,
just those birds who awaken us,
whether we want them to or not,
early in the morning.
it doesn’t have to be
practiced over and over again
until the notes are perfect,
just that lullaby offered
by soft breezes in the trees
on a spring evening.
we don’t need instruments
that are all in tune and played
by folks who have been doing
so for as long as they can remember,
it can be a symphony of
pots and pans and lids,
of empty boxes and spatulas,
of cats meowing and dogs howling—
for everything, and everyone,
can praise God, especially
without any inhibitions!
(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman
Venmo: @Thom-Shuman
it doesn’t require a praise band,
just some kids singing made up
songs at bath time.
we don’t need someone
with a degree in music,
just those birds who awaken us,
whether we want them to or not,
early in the morning.
it doesn’t have to be
practiced over and over again
until the notes are perfect,
just that lullaby offered
by soft breezes in the trees
on a spring evening.
we don’t need instruments
that are all in tune and played
by folks who have been doing
so for as long as they can remember,
it can be a symphony of
pots and pans and lids,
of empty boxes and spatulas,
of cats meowing and dogs howling—
for everything, and everyone,
can praise God, especially
without any inhibitions!
(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman
Venmo: @Thom-Shuman
Saturday, May 02, 2026
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
Friday, May 01, 2026
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
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
Thursday, April 30, 2026
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
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
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
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
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
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
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
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
Monday, April 27, 2026
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
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
Sunday, April 26, 2026
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).
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
© 2026 Thom M. Shuman
Venmo: @Thom-Shuman
Saturday, April 25, 2026
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
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
Friday, April 24, 2026
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
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
Thursday, April 23, 2026
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
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
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
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
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
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
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
Monday, April 20, 2026
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
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
Sunday, April 19, 2026
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
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
Saturday, April 18, 2026
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
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
Friday, April 17, 2026
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
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
Thursday, April 16, 2026
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
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
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