Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Purpose, not ease

Psalm 55:6–8,22: And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest." Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Thorns Among the Roses
©9-29-09 Hannah Muonio

It’s the thorns among the roses
that bring the tears;
scratching and puncturing
till bleeding I sit writhing;
patiently waiting for relief to come.

It’s the thorns among the roses
that bring the fears;
grating and stabbing
till weeping I sit shaking;
patiently waiting for relief to come.

Unknowns among the beauty of promise,
Burdens weighing on what is vulnerable,
Upheaval testing my foundational core.

My flesh cries
“Oh, that I had wings like a dove
I would fly away and be at rest!”

And yet,
I sit in Your presence
with the thorns among the roses.
Unable to stand
but sure of the ground beneath me.
Knowing the thorns serve a purpose;
allowing the roses to grow
uncrippled by my eager, reaching hand;
protecting the roses from my crushing leaning
and forcing me to lean on You

My soul cries
“Oh, help me cast my cares upon You.
Lord, You’ve said You will sustain me and
You will not let me be moved.”

It is not the wings of a dove I need
to find rest,
nor is it thornless roses.
I need only to sit in Your presence
in whatever state I am in;
bleeding tears or
shaking fears matter not.
In You is rest and
You are always with me