ONE OF THE TWELVE | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: ONE OF THE TWELVE | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Goergen
03/14/12
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I look upon my reflection
in the still water
and wonder at the man
peering back at me.
I barely recognize myself.
But did I ever—really?
Did I know who I was
the day I walked off my job
and kept walking?
I can’t remember.
Maybe therein is the answer.

Many tell me
I am wasting my life now,
living a vain lie. But why—
did they not care before,
when I went about my days
going nowhere?
I cannot remember a time,
back then,
when I wasn’t starving inside.
Did their answers satisfy
my hunger? NO—
my life was a meaningless ritual
that I care not to return to!

Most think I am a fool.
They think the only potential
for happiness in this world
is success—worldly success.
Diligently they work,
scheming and dreaming
to acquire more and more
to feed greed—and hopefully
upgrade their status.
But love of things
nurtures selfish pride—
hate—envy—spiritual decay.
They make their Creator
not one to serve,
but to beg blessings from
in memorized rituals,
as they push blindly on.

In Him,
I have found escape
from the world’s corruptions,
from false faith,
from purposeless pursuit,
yet, they reject Him
and think it is me
who is devoid of reason.
They ask how I can live
pushing weary,
throbbing, callused feet
ever onward
with no gain to myself,
and rejection a sure welcome.
But I must go!
So many exist
in the shadows of life
never knowing
there is more—
so much more!

I try to shake
the dust and dirt
from my robe and feet,
earth’s soot,
that’s ever clinging to me
as I travel hill and road;
but it stubbornly stays put.
No matter—
it’s only outward.
I have never felt as dirty
as I did before,
when I’d try to wash
my conscience clean,
by the washing of my hands.
It was ritual—self deceit—
for I never understood
the meaning of clean then,
even after just washing
and donning a clean robe.
Only because of Him,
the One I follow,
do I know the feeling of clean.

Look at the people come…
they stare at me,
some run to get away from me
as I raise my hand
and praise the truth of Jesus
out loud—
some think I have had too much wine.
They laugh at me—mock me.
It saddens me,
for all I want is a moment,
to share the hope I carry.

Some fear me,
because of my message,
they want to lock me up,
put me in prison,
try to force me to come to my senses.
They want me to renounce
REAL truth—and proclaim
their version of truth
so that I might live—
yes live—what they call living.
I will not!
The more they curse me,
the more I see the great need!

Some think I come to condemn them,
but no—like Him—I come only
to set them free.
They live behind invisible bars,
chained with lies,
and I will not be silent!
For He called me for this purpose,
and what greater
accomplishment in this life,
than to help
those that will see—
break free—
and truly live!

Some worry
I will die out here;
others wish it were so.
It is funny.
I had been dead inside for years,
yet, not one noticed—but for God.
Now I am alive!
I will keep walking,
place to place—town to town,
as long as He wants me too.
For my former fulfillments
were fruitless—truly
my greatest
achievement on this earth
is in gifting His message
to the ones,
the all too few,
that every now and then,
accept—
with open heart—
and make my soul sing,
as they absorb
the truth.
What greater blessing?
What greater purpose?

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