This week I’m sharing a poem I wrote a few years ago. This one was inspired by Proverbs 13:12; Hope deferred makes the heart sick but when the desire comes it is a tree of life (NKJV).
Tree of Life
One thing I have found is that God often means
Something different in His Word than the various things
I think it should mean as I read
And I’ve wondered aloud whether God really cares
As He rarely sees fit to answer my prayers
In the ways I feel that I need
Like the Tree of Life that desire should be
Is not the very same Tree that I see
As I confess His Word and I stand
For it’s my wants and desires I expect will grow
And bear fruit in my life even though I do know
Something different could come from God’s hand
How difficult then to give up my own schemes
And live for the far more beautiful dreams
My Father is dreaming for me
I long to know Life’s Tree for all that it is
Not my desires but all that are His
And become the green branch He wants me to be
I strive to leave behind all the things that I’ve thought
To press into the Life His Precious Blood bought
And to rest in His wonderful shade
And as He chops down my shriveled, gnarled, old tree
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.” ~ Anne Frank
I found this quote online and wanted to share it because how true it is! There is not, in my opinion, any substitute to being alone with God. This alone time has been important to me my entire life. Both my parents worked through my childhood so, of necessity, I spent a great deal of time on my own and could sneak off into a field or tree and have time alone with Jesus once my chores were done. Now that I am older and know Him in a deeper way, that time alone with Him with the sky overhead our cathedral is of utmost importance.
So important, that years ago I wrote a poem about it.
Someone asked where I found You
So I sat right down and thought
Did I find You in my prayers?
Yes, but I know I don’t pray as I ought.
And did I find you in the written Word?
Yes and no, I said
For I don’t read it as I should
There’s so much to do instead.
I’m a miserable Christian! I exclaimed
And guilt was a heavy stone on my back.
But wait, where was I?
Oh, now I remember-
How did I get so far off track?
I banished the guilt, shrugged it off
Cleared it all from my mind.
I focused completely on thoughts of You
And left all others behind.
Where did I find You? I asked myself
I turned my eyes to the heavens above
I smiled with Joy as I realized I knew
All Creation testifies of your love.
Especially for me, it’s the skies themselves
That bring my heart closer to Yours-
When the sun rises and when the sun sets
I feel that my spirit soars.
The skies are alive with colors like flame
That swirl and bend in a dance.
Look up! You say, See what I’ve made
This will be your only chance-
For each one is different-not one is the same
What has been before won’t come again.
And each new sunrise and sunset that I’ve seen
Are more beautiful than the last ones have been.
I feel so privileged, so singled out
As I wonder how it could possibly be-
That You’ve been there waiting every day
To paint the sky new just for me.
So that’s where I find You-the works of Your hands
As all Creation attests to Your fame
For through You, by You, and for You all things are made
This poem is inspired by Deuteronomy 32:12-13; a small segment of the Song of Moses which is another beautiful example of song/poems in the bible.
Strange gods
The trumped sounded with the dawn and I set myself to roam
I searched for a meeting place-somewhere I could call home
I wandered far, both day and night, until I saw a golden dome.
Its beacon shone in light and dark and attracted a vast throng
I joined myself to them and learned to sing their lovely song
Yet came the day I found I was getting the words wrong.
"Why this song?" I finally asked; "What's all this repetition for?
His voice is singing myriad-shouldn't we all want something more?"
But they called me a blasphemer and they showed me to the door.
I walked along until I found a group of people singing in the street
They greeted me, welcomed me, took me with them so I could eat
Once in their home they sat me down and soothed my aching feet.
I set about becoming one with their song and with their creed
They said I was not really like them-not in word and not in deed
They would teach me to become so but to stay I'd have to bleed.
"I like it here. I like your song. I want to stay with you.
But, you have the best in Jesus: what more can my blood do?"
They said I'd seen no light at all and I had to search for someplace new.
I stumbled on until I found someone I thought I knew
She asked me to go with her-promised to show me what was true
We sat down at a table spread before a wondrous view.
The vista was incredible-the mountains had never looked so near
There was not a cloud overhead-the air was cool and clear
"There is no work for us," she said, "but to eat while we wait here."
There was food the like I'd never seen and I was told to choose a treat
But there was nothing savory-no salt among the sweet
She told me to go elsewhere if I wished plain bread and meat.
I wandered into new lands but found no open door
Finally, I collapsed with body, heart, and soul to sore
to rouse myself again-I could not take one step more.
In the darkness He was with me though I'd thought I was alone
He ministered Himself to me-restored me blood and bone
Then He bade me tell Him everything-all I'd seen and how I'd grown.
With faltering lips I shared with Him my lengthy tale of woe
I told Him how I'd sought Him and had found Him even though
His face, at first familiar had become one strange I did not know.
"The fault is mine," I said in close, "I must possess a fatal quirk
There was no song I would not sing-no task I thought to shirk
So something must be wrong with me because I could not make this work."
"Fear not, Dear Child, I've brought you here so finally you can see
My call was not to bondage-My call is to set you free
I've called you not unto a place but for you to walk with Me."
"How can I know for sure?" I asked, "On what do I depend
for certainty I've heard aright-that You will call me 'Friend'?"
"Fear not," He said a second time; "I'm with you to the end."
"One more thing," I hesitated: "When will this race be won?
I want to understand everything but they say it can't be done."
"Fear not," He said a third time, "for you and I are One.
I stand Faithful. I stand True. I alone will lead
I will also walk beside you-I will meet your every need
I will slake your thirst with living water-on rock honey you will feed."
I put my hand in His and He lifted me up from the ground
and onto difficult and winding paths with His voice the only sound
I hear as we walk along and no more strange gods have I found.
Renaissance Woman 
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