Category: Poetry

Impossible Expectations

Poetry

Impossible Expectations

By

I impose
impossible expectations
on myself
but who do I think I am?
demanding flawless, perfect;
when all He wants is “try”

I know what you’re made of,
He says,
I get it, I’ve been there.
All I want is you here,
with me,
in this process,
doing your best,
trying.

It’s the journey I care about,
walking with you here and now.
Forget about the end product,
I’ve got that covered, remember?
All you need to worry about
is right now,
this moment.

Strive to love me first,
let your life flow stem
from that one spring.
Ditch your impossible expectations
and stop beating yourself up!

I love you,
you’re precious to me
and you know what?
I’m so incredibly proud of you.
Slow Your Breath Down

Poetry

Slow Your Breath Down

By

Breathe in.
Fill your lungs and belly.
Breathe out.
It’s sweet, nourishing water.
Breathe in.
Sink deeper.
Breathe out.
Surrender more fully.
Breathe in.
This ocean has no shores.
Breathe out.
This ocean has no bottom.
Breathe in.
You are safe and cherished here.
Breathe out.
You are delighted in here.
Breathe in.
You are treasured.
Breathe out.

You are loved.


Inspired by the Future & Forestry song after which this poem is named as well as C.S. Lewis’ book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  As the ship drew nearer Aslan’s country the waters grew sweet, and filled their bellies… and satisfied them.

Soul Rubbed Raw

Poetry

Soul Rubbed Raw

By

Soul rubbed raw
heart heavy with tears
lead in my veins
stalked by my fears

Wondering why
is my skin so frail
that every word pierces
like rusty old nails

Hiding in the dark
longing to be with
desperately needing freshness
yet feeling old, dry, stiff

Tears burn forth
limbs grow weak
heaviness prevails
loneliness still seeks

 

Nearly all of my posts end in hope, or at least have a thread of hope running through.  While communicating that hope is one of the goals I’ve had for this blog since it began,  I’m learning that fully inhabiting and expressing pain acknowledges that raw truth that there isn’t always visible hope.  An expression of pain doesn’t always end with a neat, happy resolution. Sometimes it just confesses the darkness and despair felt in that moment. 

This poem was written some time ago, but I share it to encourage you not to stifle your emotions or bottle up your feelings.  Deep, strong emotions don’t just go away.  Find a healthy way to express them that works for you, whether that’s poetry or some other form of creative writing, art, sculpture, music, dance or just talking to a friend. 

Be honest. Be raw. 

Rage if you need to.  Weep if you need to. 

It may not make everything better, but it will be a big step toward healing.  And it will be much healthier than trapping those toxic sentiments inside.

What have you learned about handling emotions in your own life?  What works for you?  What doesn’t work?
Face like Flint – Suffering like Jesus

Poetry

Face like Flint – Suffering like Jesus

By

When suffering comes-
as it certainly will-
trust God in the darkness,
just know, and be still.

Don’t make your own fire,
your own comfort or warmth,
you’ll be blinded to the darkness
beyond the circle made by your sputtering torch

Let the one who walks in shadows
without a flicker of light
trust God in the darkness,
in the uncertainty of night.

No blinding blaze of glory,
no path will suddenly appear;
just a whisper right beside you,
“I AM with you, I AM here.”

Though the night may press in more closely,
though the clouds and oppression don’t lift,
though the beatings and mocking continue,
I have set my face like flint

Because I know that the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I know that my Savior is near
There will be no shame in this story,
My God has opened my ears.

*This poem is entirely based on a sermon I heard from Pastor Tim Dunham at CCF a couple years ago.  He preached an amazing message on the verse below that has stuck with me ever since.

Isaiah 50:4-11 (NLT)

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,
   so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
   and opens my understanding to his will.
5 The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me,
   and I have listened.
I have not rebelled or turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me
   and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.
I did not hide my face
   from mockery and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
   I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
   determined to do his will.
And I know that I will not be put to shame.
8 He who gives me justice is near.
   Who will dare to bring charges against me now?
Where are my accusers?
   Let them appear!
9 See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!
   Who will declare me guilty?
All my enemies will be destroyed
   like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!
10 Who among you fears the Lord
   and obeys his servant?
If you are walking in darkness,
   without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord
   and rely on your God.
11 But watch out, you who live in your own light
   and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me:
   You will soon fall down in great torment.

Star-Breathing God

Poetry

Star-Breathing God

By

The star-breathing God,
my awesome Creator.
Wonder of wonders,
my soul’s Savior.
His incomprehensible majesty,
power beyond any human measure-
Tho’ creation lies in his hand,
He loves me as his treasure.
The starry host are His,
He knows each by its name
He calls mine also into eternity,
And the very galaxies proclaim
that Jesus is King,
but became God clothed in flesh.
He died in our place
who formed stars from his breath.

“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”
Psalm 33:6

I think I wrote this poem in 2014 after hearing Louie Giglio’s talk, How Great is Our God at a Christ Tomlin concert in Delhi. The whole thing can be found on YouTube and I highly recommend it.  It’ll blow your mind.

The Vessel

Poetry

The Vessel

By

Dry, like an empty jar
Nothing to bring, nothing to offer
Empty hands, empty heart
Knowledge unsought, talents buried
Unworthy vessel, deserving dishonor
He lifts up from the lowly place

His face filled with unfathomable love
He knows my weakness, knows my name
One command, just one request
“Just give me your all, your everything”
Unworthy vessel, he chooses to honor
And fills with beauty from the holy place

The jar now filled with unbound joy
Bringing hope, offering peace
Hands full of blessing, heart full of love
Wisdom seeking, talent investing
Unworthy vessel, given over to God
Pouring forth His blessings– with a smiling face

 

This poem was inspired by 2 Kings 4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Luke 1:26-38, 46-55.

New Year’s Prayer

Poetry

New Year’s Prayer

By

Surrendering all my hopes, aspirations and plans;
I place it all in Your more than capable hands.

Whatever lies in the year ahead,
Still faithfully on Your path I’ll tread.

Through pain, through grief, through trials and fears,
Be near to me in the vale of tears.

Whatever comes or life may bring,
Through it all, to your cross I’ll cling

And nearer, Lord, to you, I pray
Draw me nearer each and every day.

Elegy – To a Great Man

Music Poetry

Elegy – To a Great Man

By

One year ago today John Fox Peterson (better know to me as Grandpa) breathed his last just before the stars of the night faded into the reality and radiance of the dawn. He ran into the arms of his beloved Savior to the broken sounds of his family singing praises as their last goodbye. They praised and thanked God for the lives Grandpa had touched, the lives he had changed through the ministries he had been involved in, and through the very person that he was. I can almost hear the echoes of our God saying to him as he kneels before the throne, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

In that darkness before the dawn, silence and hoarse whispers were all that could be heard.  Until my soul found expression on the strings of my harp.  Sometimes language fails us.  Sometimes it is simply insufficient.  Sometimes a poem doesn’t need words.  Sometimes depth of expression isn’t profound or beautiful, I wouldn’t even call this music.  It’s just that: and expression.  It’s grief and loss, and pain.  Its that viscerally hollow, sick feeling in pit of your stomach. Yet in the bitterness of the moment and the years to come, there also hope that doesn’t disappoint.

There is comfort  in the dawn,
In the certainty of its coming
in the confidence that the sun
will burst forth
even after the darkest night,
in the hope that this is not
the end of the story,
that we will see each other again
one day in another,
more glorious sunrise.

el·e·gy
noun
1. a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.
synonyms: lament, requiem, dirge