02 May 2012

I wouldn't choose rain

The rain today
that falls softly without ceasing
is not unexpected
the earth has cried for moisture
preparation for the growing
that is soon to come

While I, feeling chilled
deep in my bones
would have chosen sun
I surrender to needs
greater than my own
attempt to find joy
turn the heat up
flex and extend my aching knee
pour another hot cup

A wise young writer friend Duane Scott
wrote provoking words on Facebook today
mentioning my name among some very gifted writers
Some of my best blogger friends, always have beautiful endings... they always point things back to God. But I know they struggle. I know they have flaws.
But their God and their faith in God outshines all of those flaws and honestly, I think my perception of them becomes a bit false because of it. I forget they're human. (And I start to think they don't have 1/10th the struggles I do)
I answered back:
It is in our flaws, hung out for the world to see that His light truly shines..
He called me sweet and I replied:
we can't be so sweet that we're not real... it's the real touched by His love...
My heart and my intention is to be open, transparent
it often leaves me raw, bleeding
but I will yet praise Him
yes, I will yet praise Him.

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 42:11 Amplified

 
Believing that are no concidences with Jennifer




and walking hand in hand with the redeemed at Emily's

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I wouldn't choose rain either...but I would choose that poem to read agaian and again...beautiful!

Brian Miller said...

i def understand your FB friend...i think that in some sense we have to be human and allow ourselves to be...but also that there is hope and joy to be found...its a delicate balance...

Nancy Franson said...

When my kids were younger, they kept picking up these books written by well-intentioned Christian writers. In nearly every story, the lost pets came home and Grandpa got saved on Christmas Eve. The books made me want to scream.

Okay, sometimes I did scream. That's not the walk of faith in this world. We don't always get the happy ending. Actually we don't get the happy ending in this world, and writers who wrap their stories up all-too-neatly aren't telling the truth.

We are to bear witness to the truth--the good, the bad, and the ugly--trusting that God will use our words to draw others to himself, and that they will see that he is good.

Ann Kroeker said...

Love your thoughts and those of your commenters. Nancy's summary paragraph at the end strikes me as particularly strong (and the description of Christians books is particularly hilarious).

Mommy Emily said...

I surrender to needs
greater than my own


this, i think is the key. to finding sunshine in spite of rain, like you say, and to letting God shine through us. love you friend.