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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: "Splash" 4-11-13 Deadline (04/04/13)
A rocky outcrop bears the brunt of raging waves
With thunderous crash
A million teardrops sparkle in a
Burst of flying spray
Gently spreading into a white edge of foam bubbles
On the beach where I stand
Remembering the day

The day, when
My hopes were shattered
Flung into the seething ocean
Tossed and butted like seaweed
Ripped from its anchorage in the shallow ocean bed

A heartbeat on a rolling wave
Echoes of
My dreams, mocked
As the sun went down on my life

And you
My friend
My soul mate
My all
Sailed far beyond the horizon that day
Your choice
A different life
A life without me

Evoked memories, melancholic
A salty teardrop
Splashed my cheek
And joined the seas, as
I wished you well and said goodbye
Forever

Now, my Lord beckons
“YOU
Come
Follow me”

“Dear Father God
What more must I forfeit
For you
To do your work
Through me?”

I saw no angels or visions
Heard no audible voice
Yet in one split moment
I knew

“My child
I AM God
There is no other
Will YOU trust ME
With the details of your life?”

Seasons earlier, I’d thanked Him
For loving
Forgiving and
Dying for me

My new life
Eternal
Began right then
But…
Friends spoke of His presence
Such wonderful blessing
A warm inward glow
Abundant
Vibrant
Life

Abundant?
Vibrant?
This bleak desolation
This pitiful soul

It seemed the lives
And service of others
Was favoured
Over mine

As the sea lapped my toes
A tangle of slippery kelp clung fast to my ankles

“Father God
I did my best
For you
I’ve tried so hard to change
For you
I’m stubborn, I know
I cling to things of my choosing
But…
I have plans
Plans to use my temperament
Plans to use my talents
My life experiences
For you Father
For your glory”

I stooped by a tide-pool
And scooped the water in cupped hands
To watch it seep
Slowly
Through my fingers
And return to the pool

A cold splash
In a vast ocean teeming with life
Me

I thought about the words of the preacher:
‘The sun rises and the sun sets
And hurries back to the place where it rises
All the streams flow into the sea
Yet, the sea is never full
To the place where the streams come from
There they return again’

My life
Perpetual empty motion
No dynamic
Only movement

Another moment
A whispered word carried on the wind

“The power
The glory
Is Mine
You do My bidding and
I will use you as I choose”

Another wave hammering the rocky cliff
Receding
Then exploding with the voice of thunder

“All power is given unto Me
In heaven and in earth
Go therefore…”

I stood up straight and marvelled at this revelation
Not new
But suddenly sparking
Energising
Dynamic

I looked and saw the power of Almighty God all around me
In roaring waves
A radiant sun
Fresh blustery winds and rain filled clouds
Twinkling stars in the night sky…

And the moon, pulling tides to and fro
To different shores
On this breathtakingly beautiful
Intricate planet
Our earthly home

The greatest power in the universe
The risen, victorious life of Jesus…
Living in me?

“Yes” He reminded
“I gave My life FOR you
I give My life TO you
I AM – IN you

And I, the Creator of life
Living within you
Will do exceeding abundantly
Beyond all you could ever ask
Or dream

Will you trust me now?”

I thought of the wasted years
Looking inward for power
Where power could never be
The ups and downs of this earthly life
The disappointing
Frustrating
Random
Nonsensical

Yet He was patient
And carried me
When I made wrong choices and
Followed my head
While my heart grew cold
I learned a hard lesson

Did I believe His words of life?
Could I trust He was fulfilling His eternal purposes in me?

Like the seaweed clinging to my ankles
He wrapped His
Protective
Loving arms
Around me

I turned, and…
Together
We walked off the beach…

In perfect harmony


The words of the preacher - NIV Ecclesiastes 1:5-7
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This article has been read 906 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Alicia Renkema
04/11/13
You have me in tears as I am writing this, as my eyes began to fill while reading. The ocean is my favorite of all of God's creations and you had me right there with your intimate and life-like descriptions. There are no words for this eloquent, yet very vulnerable piece which you have written. You have asked honest questions, ones which I asked myself many times about others seeming to be favored over me. This is an amazingly tender, and exquisite poetry / prose. I say poetry because good poetry doesn't have to rhyme, it merely tells a story in verse in such as way as to smoothly flow from one "tide pool" to the next as you so beautifully have done. This should place extremely well (by the way, I loved the way that the topic was always present yet in the background as God took the foreground of this poem), yet regardless you deeply touched my heart and I know you pleased God's!
Alicia Renkema
04/11/13
There is just so much here in this piece it was hard for me to wrap my words around it the first time. I do want to say too that you ended this so perfectly with you and the Lord Jesus walking off the beach together in harmony, there is no greater joy than that. I also love the internal dialogue between you and Jesus during your poem as He SHOWS you HIMSELF and who you are in HIM! Everything about this poem was way cool. So I just had to add this PS -- Many Blessings.
Dana Anders
04/12/13
Love the imagery in this piece. Felt like I was there. In fact, I think I have been there! There was a real sincerity in this writing - very well done.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
04/13/13
Wow this is so powerful. You picked the perfect setting to reveal these incredible emotions that rupture and crest within us, foaming at the mouth. The pace and the intensity is amazing. I feel like you peaked into my heart and wove my hurts into awesome words.
Jack Taylor 
04/14/13
I agree. Wow. In no way am I the least bit poetic but this imagery was captivating. I felt carried along in a powerful verbal current. Well done.
Sarah Elisabeth
04/14/13
Hmm, what a journey. Perfect setting, and I love your title. So much to ponder here. Good job!
Bea Edwards 
04/14/13
Stunning and overflowing with so many nuances of meaning. It is a piece of art meant to be read again and again...
Christina Banks
04/15/13
There is so much in this poem. I could see the ocean, the waves, the tide pools. The struggle you described is so real.
Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
04/15/13
I read this and then reread it with my beloved hubby. You have so completely described our comings and goings in Him - the ebbs and swells - often we feel that we are the rocks buffeted by the stormy waves, other times we feel we do the buffeting. Thank you for such an exquisite piece which methinks will garner so much praise to YHWH. God bless you mightily as you continue glorifying God as He works within you.
Myrna Noyes
04/16/13
What an intense, descriptive, intimate piece of poetry! The ocean is one of my favorite places, and we camp there for a week every summer, so you really caught and held my attention.

Your beginning was so powerful: "A rocky outcrop bears the brunt of raging waves
With thunderous crash
A million teardrops sparkle in a
Burst of flying spray..."

And I loved the way you ended it with the MC leaving the beach in company with Jesus!

Great writing! :)
C D Swanson 
04/18/13
Oh my gosh, this is gripping, powerful, brilliant, and touched my heart deeply. Fabulous!!

God bless~
Alicia Renkema
04/19/13
I would love to have a book of your stuff Dee with this lovely poem / prose in it. You are truly a gifted writer of God. I adored this piece. Love, Lish