Hidden Treasures

Tears & laughter

Sorrow & joy

Hope, pain

Dreams & disappointments

Poured into this poor vessel

Tamped down & set aside,

Forgotten,

left to gather dust

You came, saw the glint of hidden treasure

Brushed aside cobwebs,

blew away the dust

Examined the vintage

uncorked the bottle

Inhaled the heady fragrance

Savoured that first taste

Poured out ruby richness

Set free the genius of the vintner.

Drink deep He murmurs;

speak your wishes
It is my heart's desire to grant you more,
Oh, so much More.

Sing you love song over me...

Was ever a heart so full

as mine, when I am with you?

Your gentle touch a healing balm

to hidden, broken places

whispered words cry out

into

eternal skies

Every star a wish made

a hope answered.

Every colour in the dawn a pale reflection

my delight in you.

Sing your song over me,

Let me sing mine to you

May our songs create

new harmonies

rising like the wind

to dance among the clouds.

Among all men on the earth bards have a share of honor and reverence, because the muse has taught them songs and loves the race of bards.

Homer

Sometimes the road we are on gets long & hard, and we may begin to wonder if we are getting any where, if there is a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, some days we may even wonder if the light we see at the end of the tunnel is actually oncoming traffic. It is in those moments we need to step aside and take a rest. Allow ourselves to bask in the love that is our to hold, the love of friends, the love of that one special someone, most especially in the unequalled love of God. Listen for the love song. It is all around you.

The Sun Will Always Rise

I bow my head in the pelting rain, the driving wind

to passers-by I seem a blossom crushed

but the storm will pass

the sun will rise again

and I will lift my face anew to seek its warmth

Though bent I am not broken,

Battered I am still strong.

Come the dawn I will stand tall again

and the kiss of sun will dry the tears of rain.


It has been, again, an interesting few days. Nothing all that unusual has happened, life goes on, good, bad & indifferent, and yet I have had that awful, nagging feeling the other shoe is about to drop. I know that feeling is a lie. I know God had good things stored up for me, and when bad things happen, as they are wont to do, He is there, more than able to pick up the pieces and turn every evil thing into something wonderful.
But sometimes knowing these things, even believing these things isn't enough. We need reassurance that all will be well. And for me, perhaps it is merely too much change too all at once, or perhaps that old fear, the old lie, that things are too good, my happiness, my contentment is undeserved, and it will be snatched away. It is one of the reasons even still I hesitate to make plans for the future, or to dare hope things might get even better-the fear of being let down, disappointed.
I wept as a prayed this morning, feeling frustrated, alone, abandoned (all lies). I confessed to being afraid, of being a hypocrite, speaking boldly about living my life without fear, quaking in terror with every step outside my safe little box. I have been reading the book of Job again (always a favourite of mine, if only for the wonderful poetry, but I do love the tale of Job's redemption & restoration) and something caught my attention yesterday...even in the midst of his laments, his bemoaning the situation he finds himself in & defending himself to his so-called friends Job still manages to speak words of hope & praise. I wonder if those words weren't spoken sometimes wryly, or if like me, Job didn't speak out words of affirmation, hope & praise with tears choking him, refusing, despite all emotional evidence to the contrary, to let go of what he knew to be true.
My tears were short-lived. Not only do I not have time for much self-pity or navel-gazing (but oh how I long for a day alone, away from my every day life for watching the clouds roll by) but I was quickly reminded of all the things I have already come through, most much worse than these few disappointments, and of all Holy Spirit has shown me, spoken to me. Life is good, the days are still filled with promise. The sun is shining brightly today and my life is filled to overflowing with blessings.

How Deep are My Roots?

Stretching limbs

Toward Heaven;

A cloudless summer sky

River clear and sparkling,

Ribbon of song

Storm clouds threaten,

The laughing river

Swells

A raging torrent;

The song now an angry roar

In the midst of this

The tree stands firm

Roots deep beneath the floodplain

Unmoved

Stretching Heavenward

Only kissed by rain.


Are you the tree, firmly rooted, unswayed by the storm? When flood waters rise do you turn your face to heaven, let your tears mingle with the rain but still stand your ground? Or are you swept away by the raging water?
I admit when storm clouds gather my heart quails a little, when the river starts to rise I feel my knees buckle at the force of the rushing water. Not so very long ago I would have been caught in a panic in the storm, frantically throwing out lifelines, trying to secure myself to the shore. But every storm I have weathered has sent my roots deeper into the bedrock of Christ, and I am not so easily shaken.