Jo Arnold's blog

Solace

I give

And in that gift I

am pulled in myriad direction

And thus misshapen

Bent

Far

from the

mould

 

Eclipsed by doubts

By fear

By guilt

Here I lie

 

This emotion

cannot form into

words

It lies deep

Buried, yet tangible

In my pit

 

It seeps out insidiously

Burning its path

Reawakening old hurts

Picking at scars

 

I bleed

 

But You bleed too

And encircle me.

I feel Your life-blood beating

And from the heart of You

Flows new life.

 

I am caught in that heart

I can trace it round my soul

And move to its rhythm

Comforted

Rocked

Like a child in her Mother’s womb

 

Solace

 

And in that solace

is the source

is the mystery

and the wonder

of You.

 

Psalm of Evening

In the quiet

and the solitude,

Is Your majesty.

Your people have met and dispersed

but Your glory does not fade;

You do not sleep.

 

Trees rise tall and majestic

then fade and die:

Your beauty is present in it all.

The setting sun burns with fierce blaze

But is shadowed by the awe of You.

 

Day is ending.

Wild geese call their goodnights.

The birds cause the air to thunder as they rise, disturbed.

The rabbit, alarmed, darts homeward.

 

Yet Your praise is undiminished.

Brother fox starts his night time sojourn.

The first star appears, testament to Your handiwork reaching the far corners of the universe.

Your universe.

 

Yet will I praise You, O God.

Your majesty surrounds me as surely as the breeze I feel.

The twinkling lights of home remind me I am safe

and have a home in You:

Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer.

And I belong to You.

I Choose...

In a world that is broken and shaded grey,

I choose... Light

 

In a world of unceratainty where everything lies on shifting sand,

I choose... the Rock

 

In a world where feelings are all, and there are no absolutes,

I choose... Truth

 

In a world where God-given freedom leads to poor decisions and self-loathing,

I choose... Purity

 

In a world where the door of the soul is barred through fear of pain,

I choose... Love

 

In a world where good is called wicked, and wicked good,

I choose You.