How does a writer,
Pick up her pen,
When the weight just gets heavier,
The dark have no end.
The lists that are made,
Dawn journaled with sigh,
Of all the burdens weighing,
Then more added by night.
Pouring out prayers,
It’s too much Lord, see?
This is why I feel faint,
And my heart begs to breathe.
The day brings pain’s increase,
The broken break more,
The well stumble over,
The stable lay gored.
My own mind and heart,
Hold grief and despair,
Silent wars, secret aches,
Harbor home there.
I look up and around,
To a community reeling,
Neighbors, friends, loved ones,
Storm-tossed and bleating.
The nation around me,
Spirals in pain,
Confused, dark, and lost,
And greed over hearts reign.
Across oceans the darkness,
Swallows humanity whole,
Baby victims, terrorist enemies,
The hell of it all.
The whole world seems to crumble,
And I can hardly believe,
How bad news can continue,
To pour out in streams.
How does a writer,
Pick up her pen,
When war, sickness, death, hatred,
All seem to win.
She doesn’t.
She sits and she waits.
And tries her hardest to process,
Though pain comes quicker than she can contemplate.
For weeks she sits silent,
Burden lists getting longer,
Until the heart cry,
Becomes poetry louder.
Oh God, You’re not deaf,
You’re not blind, You’re not dumb,
Lord God, hear our cries,
See the lists, know the numb.
See each splitting,
Wide ripped-open heart,
Hear the victims’ cries,
Know the sick patient’s part.
Father, we’re in anguish,
And we need You to come,
To the world to reign, yes,
But even now in our done.
Shine light in this darkness,
Draw near to our faint,
Give hope to our hopelessness,
And mend our complaint.
How does a writer,
Pick up her pen,
When the weight just gets heavier,
It’s by God’s grace again.
Hi Ms. Emily. It’s Josie from co-op. Ever since you told us the name of your blog in writing class on Oct. 4, and I went and found it, your story has just kept on blessing me. It has been amazing to see how God uses pain and brokenness to bring about new healing for you, and for others, like me, who learned about your story and were touched by his hand. Your story makes me love you even more as a teacher and a person, and I wanted to let you know that.
Keep doing the amazing work that you’re doing! You are a great writer!
And yes, I have read the entire blog in 2 days 😉
Oh dear Josie, what a gift of a comment this is!! Thank you so deeply for your beautiful and encouraging words, and for the gift of your reading the whole blog!! This is all such a blessing, and I am thankful for you! <3