Eternity golden and radiantly warm
though Winter’s blast draws near me
Sunlight beams shoot through my vision
I see the way so clearly
It is always summer in your presence
invincible summer that never can die
A pact between the Ancient of Days
for He is not a man that he should lie.
To abide forever in summer’s glory
to be wholly and fully alive
not through a looking-glass darkly
but clear and present my Faith will be sight
Photo by Chevanon Photography
I suppose all writer’s like to sit and observe people. I am sure they must. I do this without even realizing it, even when I don’t want to.
I was sitting in a cafe yesterday for instance, in a nice part of North Dallas and four teenage girls came in…the following is what I observed and where my mind went…
The perfect girl, I will call her #1. She is tall. She has on designer shirt and shorts with the perfect little wedge shoes and subtle but elegant jewelry. Her hair is smooth and perfect and naturally deep auburn. Her sunglasses are effortlessly perched on top of her head. She is the Alpha Female, the leader, the talker. The others follow her but more importantly they trust her implicitly…
Girl #2 is so close to being an Alpha she has staked out being the #2 girl with authority. She is willing to follow the Alpha as long as the other two girls acknowledge that she is #2. She knows she isn’t as pretty or perfect but she is striking and smart, articulate and unafraid.
#3 is Happy. She is happy to be here. She is smiley and bubbly and very pretty without knowing it. She is easy going so she can never be an Alpha Female and she is okay with that. She knows her place and she knows she is just as smart and articulate as her friends but she knows “the art of waiting…”
#4 is the youngest in the pack. She is beautiful and smart but insecure. Her first words were “I didn’t wear my sunglasses.” She is afraid to step out and speak her mind yet because she is a little scared the others will make fun of her. For now, at this stage in her life, she is a follower but has every intention of overcoming her doubts and become the Alpha Female one day herself. She is the one who interacts the most with #1 because she is learning and soaking in observations. The teacher and the student…
I do not believe that women in the American culture have ever been taught or given the okay to move in packs or accept they are part of a marvelous tribe. Most of us bear the good and bad of life in a private place. We may have one friend or two we can tell most things too but it is rare that we would ever run a joint household as they did in the ancient days…The statement “it takes a village” is not true in the America that I see. An American woman is expected to do it all and do it on her own and we all can see how well that has worked out.
I digress…so there they were, four girls, just eating, laughing, talking…they are probably nothing like what I observed…it is crazy right? I know.
Photo by Alem Sánchez
As I prepare my heart during Lent season heading toward the Holy day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ I keep coming back to the thought of The One in whom I put my trust.
All of us “trust” something or someone, as as a result, we worship the very thing we are trusting.
Dr. Hud McWilliams says, “for a relationship to be authentic, one must realize that a choice has to be unencumbered by manipulation.” (no fear, no rules, and no behavior that merits you favor). “
Looking back on my youth I have come to realize many of my relationships had an element of manipulation or my own agenda in them but now I see that Jesus never manipulated people to engage with or follow him.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
God gives us the ability to openly choose Him through Jesus Christ. No manipulation, no winning a lotto, no position of prosperity or health. So, I remain humbly astounded that my relationship with God can be truly free and without manipulation…
Photo by Skitterphoto
I suddenly wake and can’t see anything
I start throwing my fear around…
I open the window
I look for the sun for any signs of the spring
and then I can breathe again
I can feel each Holy breath…
I hear my babies laughing
I smell roses drifting on the breeze
Deep inside a sweet voice whispers
what have you to fear?
and then I can breathe
I can feel each Holy breath…
At night I gaze up into the heavens
I hear someone call my name
I laugh at the man in the moon
and peace comforts me again
and then I can breathe
I can feel each Holy breath
Photo by Garon Piceli
I lie down under the burden
of the courage that I lack
For you to see the sin in me
cannot be taken back
It is my greatest fear at times
you might finally know
The dark and filth I tasted once
I never want to show
Exposure of who I really am
could it drive your love away?
After all you’re only human
dare I hope that you would stay?
The truth of exposure that I fear
is a mystery not of loss
But a debt that is fully paid
willingly hung upon a Cross
Photo by Fabio Gasperoni
Sunshine in my window I heard the screen door slam
The more I lose the more I win guess it’s just the way I am
Leaving the rain behind me living a brand new way
Taking the view I’m given being thankful every day
Swept the illusions all away cobweb’s about what is true
I cleaned out the hidden places guess that’s just what I had to do
Spring rains clears the skies I close my eyes to pray
There is still so much to know guess that’s just my way
Leaving the rain behind me living a brand new way
Taking the view I’m given thanking God every day
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon
She sees musical notes in color
and the tunes flow like a breeze.
Minor keys are her blue notes
and her hope is the colors of Spring.
She can rush on rum and beat on drums
and can play all the chords of strife.
She sees musical notes in color
and writes songs in the key of life.
Photo by Renato Mu
This is where I leave you my bright and beautiful child
You won’t know my pain of letting go at least not for a while
I had dreamed that we would always be this free
But now I know you will not have the same dreams as me
A living ache piercing to such depth I have never known
That you would ever think me less than the one who loves you so
Photo by Matheus Bertelli
Once I was the girl on the side street flashing in and out of the dark. I was taught a role to play for the well being of my family and for my Dad’s livelihood. I played it well. Such a mix of tender family moments peppered with the fear that maybe Jesus didn’t really come for me…
…now the ocean’s wind catches each regret, each sin, and sorrow throwing it into the eternity of a perfect God to be forever forgotten. In the light of the moon a young woman, who thought the stars would stop shining above her found the Maker of the stars and the freedom and love and the lullaby when He sang a Holy song baptizing over her in waves. So now I am drifting, sailing and it was you who came for me.
On that day when the sun tipped over the edge of the earth and spilled colors like buckets of orange, pink, and violet as a reminder of the power of Holy light. The young woman once ravaged and scarred by guilt and shame found joy in the warmth of The Son. Lifted from the darkness you came for me. You hold me in your arms and by your own wounds, scars, and stripes you heal me. The girl on the side street finally came home…
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
All her colors run together on the floor…
she has been here so many times before
She is sure this time they will stone her
Condemnation beats in her heart and her soul is torn…
His gentle words were more than she had hoped for…
He bent down in the dirt and wrote a word
He spoke gently lifting her face to see Heaven
“No one here can condemn you anymore…”
All the colors of New life swirled around her at once
Blood red drops in the dirt became white as snow
the blue of the sky filled with angels singing “gloria! ”
He said, ” your sins are forgiven now you are whole… “
