This is a poem I wrote a few years ago. I was digging through some boxes and found it, so...thought I'd share. I'll find more and post them, until my website is back up again.
STRIPPED
You watched me breathe; you watched me bloom
You watch me reach out for the moon
For all that sparkles; for all that glows
You watched me wearily as I would swoon
For life's dispensable mysteries
But now I'm stripped...
Stripped, I am no longer holding on to things that bind me
Stripped, I am made free to love again, for I was dying
Stripped, I am free to shine
Stripped, I am free to soar
Stripped, I have been made beautiful again
My feet, tied up into the ground
I reached up high but fumbled
My soul, weighed down with thoughts abound
I lost my way and crumbled
But there you were...
You broke me down; you laid me out
My pieces scattered all around
My cries were drowning out the sound
Of fear within me
Of loss around me
And I was stripped
Stripped, I no longer hate
Stripped, I no longer wait
For life to bring this world to me
For I am stronger, and I no longer
Hold on to what holds on to me
I am braver; my heart can't waiver
As long as you are beside me
I am stripped
Copyright (c) 2013 Sherien Zaki
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Personal Refinement
For the last two weekends, I have been following a sermon at IBC on Jonah, the "reluctant messenger." There are still two more weekends to go, but it has been a gripping one already. Jonah, God's good prophet, is resisting God's wishes. Because God has hit a sensitive nerve with Jonah. So God deals with him, teaching him not only obedience (he is GOD after all), but also to deal with his issues. See, so often we think we're doing just fine; great even! Jonah was a prophet. He's by all traditional standards up there with the good guys. Except for this one thing. Don't ask him to do this one thing!
If I did a broad stroke evaluation of myself, I'd consider myself "just fine." I'm not hooked on any sinful behavior. I help people where I can, I volunteer my time for others, I work hard and love my family. A-OK. Really?? What about that one person I can't stand, and therefore avoid all the time. Have I considered praying for him? What about that one nagging topic I haven't discussed with my family because it irks me too much, so I'd rather just avoid it? How angry do I get when it comes up? Have I talked it out with them to hear their side of the story? Oh and have I given away those extra washer and dryer to a family in need, or am I still holding on to my "stuff"?
It's not so hard to recognize the big issues, but the small ones are often neglected and swept under the rug, because they don't really alter your every day. But like a small leak can slowly rip into a flood, so can our small "quirks" turn into an opening for larger issues to develop.
I often wonder "Why God are you allowing yet another test? Wasn't the last one - or four - enough already? Am I that bad that I need this lesson again??" But God keeps working on us. He keeps perfecting us. He leaves no stone uncovered. He will not allow for Satan to find an "in" to get you from. You've graduated from basic to advanced and the test has become more surgical. Be glad, you're actually doing great - so much so that God is working on the details. And you know the devil is in the details. But so is God. You're his work of art, and you are beautiful. So if you find yourself "tested," know that greatness is in the making. And that's you.
If I did a broad stroke evaluation of myself, I'd consider myself "just fine." I'm not hooked on any sinful behavior. I help people where I can, I volunteer my time for others, I work hard and love my family. A-OK. Really?? What about that one person I can't stand, and therefore avoid all the time. Have I considered praying for him? What about that one nagging topic I haven't discussed with my family because it irks me too much, so I'd rather just avoid it? How angry do I get when it comes up? Have I talked it out with them to hear their side of the story? Oh and have I given away those extra washer and dryer to a family in need, or am I still holding on to my "stuff"?
It's not so hard to recognize the big issues, but the small ones are often neglected and swept under the rug, because they don't really alter your every day. But like a small leak can slowly rip into a flood, so can our small "quirks" turn into an opening for larger issues to develop.
I often wonder "Why God are you allowing yet another test? Wasn't the last one - or four - enough already? Am I that bad that I need this lesson again??" But God keeps working on us. He keeps perfecting us. He leaves no stone uncovered. He will not allow for Satan to find an "in" to get you from. You've graduated from basic to advanced and the test has become more surgical. Be glad, you're actually doing great - so much so that God is working on the details. And you know the devil is in the details. But so is God. You're his work of art, and you are beautiful. So if you find yourself "tested," know that greatness is in the making. And that's you.
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