I am struggling to understand the culture and climate in our country. Tension grows. Some share a heart for resolution but lack of direction leaves us immobile. Communities are on the brink of anger. Some tread lightly. Others, not so lightly. Few are listening…
Can you hear the light?
Loud shadows drape the land.
In landscapes barren of listening ears
Fear slinks into the corners of hearts and souls.
Roar of torches falsely illumine darkness
Rage bounces off bronze remembrances of days long past.
In return, anger echoes with flames
Flames so loud they consume every word and scorch every heart.
Heritage of generations past matter.
Until they do not.
Privilege claims remembrance of times past
Yet the same privileged grant not remembrance to those once repressed.
Consider also the dim glow of apathy,
Silent as winter’s first snow.
It shelters and espouses neutrality
Yet also numbs and delicately condones.
Of what are we afraid?
The unknown, irrelevance?
Loss of livelihood, insignificance?
Or merely change itself?
Tilt
the prism of perspective.
Be brave and encounter stories in a new way
Beauty bursts throughout the spectral array of narratives.
Strength to tilt, however,
is an elusive solo activity.
Sans the Light of the world
Efforts pale as a bulb on its dimmest setting.
Oh how we overlook the prism of the multicolor Kingdom!
Tribe, nation, and tongue
ALL created by the Lord Almighty
ALL declared good by the great I AM.
Iridescent living
requires True Light.
The Light of the Ancient of Days burns bright and ready,
Piercing even the darkest of days.
Light for the journey exists.
Divine love illuminates possibilities unseen
Answers we seek appear amidst genuine love for one another.
Will you reach for Christ’s light instead of human’s torch?
Ambassadors of Christ, Friends:
Reconciliation with God includes
reconciliation with one another.
Our call includes love for others, and…
Not just on Sunday.
No matter how church-y it sounds,
biblical it was
and biblical it remains to this day.
Can you hear the light?
It sounds like conversation
I hear the voices, the shaking of hands, hearts humbly bowed in prayer
We discover dialogue when the Divine light illumines the path.
Will you reflect the Light of the Lord instead of the will of the human heart?
Written by Sharon R. Hoover
I’ve been looking forward to what you would say here after the process of pondering.
Keeping that “prism of the multi-color Kingdom” before my eyes gives me hope, and your words have given deeper understanding.
Poetry offered a way to reflect on the complexities. Thanks for joining me in the journey, Michele! I continue to remain in prayer for wisdom and clarity.
Sharon this is excellent. Did you write this?
Yes, I wrote it. :) I’ve been trying to put into words all of the challenges and hurts from last weekend’s events (and the past months and more). Instead of an essay, it came out as a poem. So glad you liked it!
Sharon, what a profound truth. Beautifully expressed.
Thank you for your kinds words, Sonia! Thanks, also, for taking a moment to be part of the conversation.