(This poem was jotted down late one night as I was about to go to sleep & emailed to the intended teen recipient whom God impressed on my heart. Here in its original, sloppy format…)
look me in the eye u know u can’t deny the love / once planted in ur heart/ by Jesus/ don’t look away/ u know the price he had to pay for – the precious blood he shed for – u/ don’t look away, why r u throwing it all away? / when he’s waiting , waiting for u/ his heart breaking for u/ let him love u. Listen, he is near/ calling out ur name/ precious one, child of grace/ turn ur face again to him/ he holds u in a special place close to him/ and his covenant with u is never broken, for u are chosen/ since before time began u are part of His plan/ even knowing all you’d do and the stupid stuff too/ he’d do it all again/ cos u r his child/
Today you’ll find me over at Jennie Pollock’s great site
I met Jennie on the online world via a writing challenge we were both completing. I was unable to complete all the challenges in a timely manner but I’m hoping to knock another two off my list with the above article…Challenge #9 Great Writers Connect with other Writers and Challenge #12 Great Writers Provoke Us.
Jeff Goins’ 15 Habits of Great Writers series certainly alerted me to the fact that I need to be proactive and get going with projects whilst also being ready to stick my neck out and take a few risks. Amazingly, after interacting with Jennie about this article that I’d had brewing in my mind for quite some time, she encouraged me to not only write it but suggested that it feature as a guest post on her blog. Rather than find a million excuses as to why I shouldn’t, I decided to seize the opportunity and go for it.
It turns out that Jennie is also a spectacular editor who worked her refining magic on the post, including dividing it up into two separate articles. I am most thankful for her willingness to offer me this opportunity as a guest blogger and hope that you will enjoy looking around her site. Jennie is also a twitterer well worth following. She can be found at @MissJenniep.
(NB – Candyfloss is our British term for ‘cotton candy’ as it’s known in the States. Photo: stockfreeimages.com)
On the anniversary of the London 7/7 bombings I’ve decided to re-post a poem which I wrote shortly after that fateful day, seven (eta: now 10) years ago. Thanks to Gillan Scott over at God and Politics UK who has also featured it on his (former) site. [Gillan can now be found over at archbishopcranmer.com]
From elation to deflation
in less than twenty-four hours
From euphoria and applause
on the streets of London,
to sudden, forceful pause
across the transportation network.
Stillness in the city,
but for the sirens, the screams.
From gasps of delight
to gasps of horror,
From cheerful celebrations
to serene silence.
Lives cruelly snatched away.
Hearts leapt on Wednesday,
sank on Thursday –
Hope sapping from the heart of London
and the heart of man.
But our hope is in you, sovereign Lord
As the nations rage
our hearts remain steadfast in You.
Eight leaders in a room can never save the world,
nor the words, deeds or music of man
But at the King’s Cross
we still have reason for faith,
Hope and Love, they too remain
We won’t live in fear, but freedom
When I listen to the song, Shadows, by the David Crowder Band, my whole being wants to respond in affirmation with a resounding ‘Yes!’
Just as my two previously posted poems begin very differently – one focussing on light and warmth, the other on darkness of the soul – this song speaks of the way our lives are continually entwined by light and shadows.
We will all experience a measure of both throughout life. Highs and lows, joy and sorrow. It’s sheer wonder to dwell on the realisation that no matter what we’re currently going through, our lives are in His hands as we rest in the “shadow of the Cross”.
We are not abandoned or forgotten; our heavenly Father walks with us through the depths of our darkest moments and promises to lead us through those times.
Having experienced the awful loss of my Dad at the beginning of this year, I know this is true. In my darkest hour, with my precious dad in his last moments, I was aware of the immense, overwhelming love of God. In the face of desperate sadness and pain I was surrounded by tangible peace and love.
Jesus walked with me through his passing away, and words will never be able to truly convey how my soul was stilled, when it should have felt completely crushed. Yes, sadness was there – and still returns time and again as I struggle to piece together the jigsaw of my life without him. It’s not something to deny or suppress. I fully embrace my feelings, but despite them can still know I am loved, not alone; upheld by grace.
Songs like this help to express in some small way the hope and assurance we have in trusting God through both the peaks and valleys of our lives. The fear that tries to defeat us, dissipates in the presence of His all consuming love.
The music and lyrics of ‘Shadows’ are like a salve to the soul. Let the song wash over you – it’s powerful!
[As part of today’s writers’ challenge we were encouraged to share something unpolished. Here’s a poem I wrote several years ago that began well but probably needs some work…]
Darkness encapsulates the soul Flaunting its ability to deplete nearly every last drop of hope and delight In the ordinariness of a life squeezed by stresses or disillusionment Deflated by the realisation that self-fulfilment is not within reach Nor peace a possibility at this stage in the game of life (Young mothers will understand what I mean)
Yet merely a flicker of an eyelid commands power through its Invitation to light As the eyes allow access like windows into my very being Embracing the call of creation which Diffuses my small sufferings and dares to defy Negativity, too much subjectivity Or inflated thoughts of doom and gloom Scattered through the day like pepper on a plate
Vision enables me, calls me to scan the horizon from east to west And to see beyond the boundaries of my existence, while Everything within cannot resist the rapture of God’s alluring landscape My lungs expand involuntarily to grasp a fresh taste of salty air As exuberant waves demand my attention, and I cannot deny Your existence, Your true trademark of nature And my all-consuming little life is dwarfed by the wonder of silvery sea and Sugar-like sand, that cannot be captured in the palm of my hand
And I laugh at the way you designed me to depend on Your light, as you shine through the sun Saving my sanity, as warmth envelops me Teases me, reminds me that there’s more to this world Than me, than mine, and yet more of me And your cotton-like clouds entertain far more than what I see on TV And the stones on the beach are pure pleasure to see I’ll remember next time When I open my eyes and respond to your Invitation to light
Writelight* Shedding light through words 