Prayer

Composed 8/27/17
Description: n/a

Oh Lord
Please save me from a narrow mind and a limited perspective
As You are the only one who can truly know another
I am unable to appreciate the intricacies of any other’s situation
I am only permitted to live inside this one skin
To view the world through this set of eyes and process stimuli
Though this one, routine tilled mind
I cannot feel the sensations of another’s heart
Feel the burn of pain or passion in their veins
So save me from saying
I understand flippantly in conversation
For I know I never could
Compel me to remember…
To always listen before I speak
To earnestly seek to understand
And to use my own voice only in support of others
To give credit where credit is due
And to respect the boundaries that have been placed
In response to oppression and stripped identity
And I pray not only for me
But for all like me
As we are all tempted and blinded by demons and
Seductive voices that whisper of the convenience of superiority, ignorance, and hate
I pray
That we will all remember Your teachings
And be open to receiving Your perspective so
Your love and acceptance may permeate all of our interactions
And most importantly I pray that all who find these words
Will see them as a plea made in sincerity
That they
Will confront themselves as they ponder this request
As these words are not just pretty things
But a reminder that Your word challenges them and challenges me.

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Responsibility

Composed 9/1/15
Description: It has been awhile since I’ve posted, but I have been doing some writing. Largely my lack of activity is due the struggle of transitioning to grad school and re-balancing work with school and whatever remains of my social life. However, school has been good so far; I’m working on a Masters in Social Work. For my “intro/immersion” class I actually got to write a poem for extra credit! Rad, right?

The theme of the project was “what does social work mean to me?” Thus, this poem was born.

Have you ever heard a baby’s first cry?
Or witnessed the mist of a father’s last sigh?
Wandered streets shaking without cold
Have you cringed in the night when nobody knows?

If you have you have known
Fear
Fear of uncertainty
Fear of being alone
It consumes, layers everything
But afraid?
It’s not what you have to be

The night is dark
And the trail is rigged
And the forest is in tangles
Trees dripping with hate and red tape

But for some reason
They gave me a flashlight
And I can get my hands on the map
So it seems that I could be your guide
Can I walk you through the maze?
If it makes your journey easier
I’d like to try

I just can’t leave you standing there
When it’s all here in my hands
What is worth doing
If not love for fellow being?
All my things will come and go
But help
That ripples, you see
And that’s my responsibility