I received an email from a friend of mine who I thank God for everyday. He was challenging me to give voice to the struggles in life that I (and that we ALL) face. I do believe that this blog would not be complete or balanced unless it brought to light (honestly and openly) struggles...plain and simple.
For what it is worth, this is my picture. As always, I welcome your own portraits, paintings (finger-paintings I am partial to, of course).
-------
Nestled in this nook,
Tucked away from prying eyes
This feathered bird prays:
Awaiting hope’s birth,
Sweet child of emblazoned sky
“Dispel this darkness.”
A chill in the air,
I reach out for my sweater,
Feathers not enough
October is gray
And winter has come too soon
I was not ready
Knitting, not preening
I make haste in a panic
Clothing nakedness
Slowly haste gives way
Surrendering sheer fatigue,
A delicate fade
Captive tears once trapped,
Angrily assault my gates
They are free to go
Succumbing at length,
I have become that last leaf,
And loosen my grip
Choosing to let go,
I dance and swirl to the ground,
Winter has not won~
8 comments:
Beautiful.
Beautiful and Honest. There is hope. There is a part of the struggle that's developmental - and the winter that you talk about is the season after college up until you find yourself. Being in the struggle helps and gets you through it much quicker.
In the cycle of the year and in the cycle of life - winter brings death - but it's always followed up by new life and love in the Spring.
What a beautiful picture that you've painted. Painful, but also very honest. Hang in there.
One of my favorite quotes addresses this idea, of seasons being a natural (although not always welcomed) passage of time and life. I think you'll appreciate this, Lem (and Ray!):
"There are times to cultivate and create, when you nurture your world and give birth to new ideas and ventures. There are times of flourishing and abundance, when life feels in full bloom, energized and expanding. And there are times of fruition, when things come to an end. They have reached their climax and must be harvested before they begin to fade. And finally of course, there are times that are cold, and cutting and empty, times when the spring of new beginnings seems like a distant dream. Those rhythms in life are natural events. They weave into one another as day follows night, bringing, not messages of hope and fear, but messages of how things are.”
~Chogyam Trungpa~
reading, hoping, praying with you. love.
Gorgeous thoughts...thanks for sharing.
Ecclesiastes 3 speaks of these seasons as well ... "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven" ... followed by a collection of opposites - war and peace, rending and mending, collecting stones and casting them away. It suggests, at least, that we can better see and understand the difficulties in our lives when viewed in contrast to the easier times. And like Trungpa, it may also suggest that the tough things, the "gray Octobers", are necessary, natural and ultimately fruitful.
Thanks Ray. I have often loved the imagery and symbolism of that passage in Ecclesiastes. Well said~
Andy Beth, I think you'd like this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUO0gd7cr9o
Your poem made me think of it and has a similar theme.
I think giving a voice to your struggles is something that brings us into true community. I hvae just learned to do that in the last year and to not be ashamed of what God has brought me through, but rather thankful that He brought me through it. Keep writing more. I want to read it!
Post a Comment