Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Intercessor

There's an echo in my soul that won't let go
     a sad, sad song that takes its toll.
Would it be that for my heart to die that I'd find peace
     or would chaos reign and my joy to cease?
If only I could see my days
     and tread the path of the righteous way.
But my soul grows still, it will not stir
     my desire fails, I move no more.

     My dreams are more real to me than my waking life. I long for sleep if only to escape the pain. It feels to me that in the land of Nod I live, while reality is the ugly dream without an end. I neglect my body, my friends, worsening the guilt of my chosen isolation; knowing I could turn it around yet having no motivation to do so. I long for companionship, yet despise it. I yearn to see the world yet find the worlds of my mind easier to travel.
     I find temporary solace in the arms of another, momentary happiness in the little things of life, and I still laugh hard and laugh often. I have changed, grown, yet am the same. Even when I feel so close to someone or surrounded by people I trust and care for, I still feel alone. Even as I spread little forget-me-nots around, I don't wish to be remembered. I want to be kept. I only find peace with my God, and yet still pursue the Divine in humanity. Deep calling unto deep, I reach out for the spark of God within the souls around me.
     But even then, the pain returns. For lying below the light are shadows. Humanity is the ultimate paradox: designed with the intention to walk beside the Divine, and yet more demonic than demons. We live with choice, every moment of every day. Shadow or Light, good or ill. Shrouding maliciousness, jealousy, and agendas with good actions; using cruelty and cutting remarks to mask insecurities and fears. We lash out in defense like a cornered animal.
     I was told that those who would hurt me are not truly my friends. "They don't deserve you. Leave 'em." But I do not deserve humanity. Humans are still kind - they still care. Many work in fields to make their little corner of the world a better place, reaching out with hands that want to heal, to help, to support, to serve. The spark of God still remains. If only I lived on a world of absolutes, of the binary of good and evil, it'd be easier. Yes, there are some absolutes, but even in a black and white photograph, there is always so much grey. And I see in colors.

There's a wind passing through the trees
      there's a swelling in the underseas.
Whispers over and behind and around
     sighing for the lost and the found.
If only I could find someone
     who could translate the lullaby's of the One.
But my soul does stir, I know it well
     the voice of the Master commands me "Tell!"

     Yes, thanks to God, I can see what others cannot. The spectrum is broad indeed. And my filter is a reverse prism, condensing everything I see into one beam that comes from the Above. But I am flawed. Sometimes I cannot reconcile what I take in. Sometimes I cannot bring the conversation back round to my God. Sometimes - all too often really - I am at a loss. I am left overwhelmed by the information I try to absorb. The pain becomes unbearable.
     There are times where I, in my human state, feel like my gifts are more of a curse than a blessing. Yes, I see light and shadow, negative and positive equally. And sometimes I focus too much on one over the other. And that's what hurts. Temptations, misinformation, misdirection, lies, and my own personal wants come into play, corrupting the stream. I walk on the earth, among the peoples, among individuals and groups. And I feel them. I see them. X-ray vision of the heart.
     And I cannot understand what I see. Pain and joy...lies and trust...love and apathy...masks and truth...respect and racism...complexes and minimalism...creation and sabotage...pride and hope...generation after generation living out humanity in their own way. If only I could be insane and take pills to make it all fade. But as if I'm a walking antenna, I get struck by lightning. Over and over again. My sight is opened and my soul rendered to shreds.
     Someday, maybe someday, I'll be done with the road of Solomon of Ecclesiastes and finally stop my chorus of "Everything is meaningless, empty!" Or perhaps the path I tread is the path of the Psalmists, pouring out everything until I am dry and still wrung for every last drop of joy and grief. But that will never cease. For even when the music's gone, my voice can still be heard. For my voice is not mine.
     My story is your story. My song is your song. Your life, your breath, God knows. God sees. And when I am allowed by God to see, I too see. I may only see a part of the picture, but I see you. My prayers are for you. I am an intern, apprentice of the great Intercessor. I serve and study under the one who speaks words beyond language and utterance, speaking and sighing and singing to God. Do I understand what is I see or feel? Almost never. Once in a while I do understand, but for the most part, I simply try to obey.

Monday, May 14, 2018

The Pain of Love

To fall in love...to taste the drug of the mind.
To crave another person, desire their attention,
To feel your pulse, your breath change tune whenever you think of them.
But like the moon, it has its cycles,
Sometimes bright, full, and in view,
Other times faint or below the horizon.
A mood that changes and flows.
Every new love fresh and you are high once more.
But to love, well, that is different.
To choose to give to another even when there is no high,
To reach out to someone you might not otherwise consider,
Is that not better?
But to love is to be vulnerable.
For there is much risk involved.
When the emotional high fades, one is none the worse for wear.
A sting, and then forgotten.
To move on, grow up, learn, and then to fall in love again,
maybe a little more hesitant, but still desiring to live.
But to love...is to taste pain.
To grieve over and over again.
To know that love is not equal.
Mutual, sometimes, yes. But not equal.
Love is painful.
To sacrifice the freedom of living alone,
sacrifice parts of yourself for the sake of another.
To give up precious time, and emotional strength.
To become rash on decisions and make financial changes.
And whether their intentions are well and good or not,
you will be used.
The child takes, the lover absorbs.
They will lean on you,
and if you truly love,
then you will want to be strong,
to provide,
to continue to give,
to be leaned upon.
And you'll want to lean back - just enough so.
Not to be a burden to them,
but to have them feel needed and wanted.
But the problem with being human,
is that one is always swaying -
leaning or being leaned upon too much.
And fear settles in.
Too far?
Too much?
Too little?
Not enough?
But love does not ask for much in return.
Love is sacrifice.
To really love is a beautiful thing.
But humanity uses and abuses love.
We all do.
I am guilty of it.
And I have felt the effects of the other side of the coin.
I gave, only to have it all taken away.
Ripped from me.
And I loved again, but it was not reciprocated.
To love is to be vulnerable.
To love yet not be loved, or to love and be wronged...is agony.
...but it is worth it.
For it is all we have.
To love -
is to die in order to live.
To love -
is to provide hope for one who has none.
To love -
is to give because you had been given to.
To love -
is to be Somebody for a Nobody.
To love -
is to bleed to provide life.
This is the pain of love.

Thursday, May 3, 2018

I Broke the Rules

I broke the rules.
I did a thing.
But I have no guilt, I have no shame.
Is it because I've done this deed before?
Or because I misunderstand the rules?
All my life I've been told one way.
And the Word of Life that I hold dear,
     seems to agree with what they say.
But then why do I have no conviction?
When I hold God's hand, when I yearn for the Truth?
Why do I feel no wrong?
I was given my conscience for a reason.
I've been learning to listen to the Spirit.
Then why does she seem so silent?
Have I grown deaf?
Or is this a thorn in my side?
A sin that will plague my humanness for my life?
Oh God my God, I do not understand.
Lead me in Your way.
Show me what I must do.
So many preach this a heavy sin, but I feel no weight.
Yet I do not feel peace, a sure sign that my steps are not quite right.
Which way do I turn to walk Your path again?
Or have I faltered at all?
My Lord, I do not understand.
I am still sinking into You, regardless of the sides I swing.
So who do I listen to, as deep calls unto deep?
Whose voices are you using to reach me?
I am not alone in this.
Surely You know my worries and fears.
It seems to them that I broke the rules.
So where is the discipline, or the gentle nudge?
Or are you letting me stray so that I'll get lost again?
So that in my despair I'll cry to You? Run to You?
Is this what it takes?
Am I so stubborn to not see the pit before I fall?
Open my eyes.
Open my ears.
Let me hear You.
Let me see You.
I know You're there.
You're still guiding me.
Then tell me why do I not feel the rumble strip,
     warning me of impending danger?
Why do I not feel the Wind pushing me back to You?
Is this sin?
Have I truly taken two steps back?
Become despicable?
A wretch once more?
Tell me this is not true.
I'm not a monster.
I'm made new in You.
So why am I numb to this, according to them?
     They who are Your people?
They are not perfect, but then neither am I.
Is this my imperfection?
Tell me, Perfect One,
     did I break the rules?