There is an ancient Hebrew saying
“Faith is the confidence of things
Hoped for, the evidence of things
Not seen”
In my early conversion years I focused
On all the rules to keep, to be perfect in
All my ways, unless I might not reach the
Expectations of God and others.
To be lost was a terror I felt. It took
A long time for me to accept the idea
That perhaps this wasn’t true. Slowly
I began to let go of these expectations
(Though I still struggle with them)
The rules were like extra garments I wore
Encumbering my body. It has been a slow
Process. I don’t know if you can relate
And experience like me, slightly shedding
One piece of clothing at a time, like
Reaching for the door handle to be
With others and feeling just
A little lighter, a little naked, and checking
To make sure you are fully covered.
The serpent sheds its skin to allow for
Further growth, to remove any parasites
That may have attached to their old
Skin, often by creating a rip in their skin.
It doesn’t happen all at once!
Sometimes I wonder if we feel ripped and
Torn apart, by the lessons we have to
Learn to have new growth? Removing any
Erroneous ideas clinging to our minds.
Holding on to our old earthly garments?
The following is a poem with words
I have not fully reached, but by hope
One day, though not here.
~~~~
Pressing on with hope, that
What I cannot see will one
Day come to be
In my youth I I had striven to
Excel in all things given
In after years I was slowly
Driven
All things in the past forgiven
Resting places have
Arisen
The magic number seven opens
The door to heaven
A busy week of six, one day
Given for rest
That all may be blest
This is new to be here, I knew
Not I would rest here
Laurel and the rose with poppies
I behold
Before I had not the presence
Of mind to see the beauty
They hold
The briar and the thorn no longer
Exist
Giving way the pricks to one
Eternal thought, preexisting
Doubts
Prone to share this heavenly
Splendor
I seek one like I to ever press
On together.
~~~
I know how lonely our journey can
Feel, if there are others like me I
Would love to hear from you.
~~~~
There is a saying
“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another”
