Day 53 - My Song

When I heard that Dr James Forbes was going to preach John Jasper Day at Sixth Mount Zion, I knew I had to be there.  When I heard him preach at Ellison 2 years ago, I appreciated the balance between great homiletics and spiritual attentiveness, speaking to the whole person.  He is also a poet like me, and the poem that he shared was a beautifully affirming piece.  Well, he did it again, and I wanted to share the poem with you to empower you as well.

There’s a song inside of me

I can hardly wait to see

What it is I have to say

Or the music I will play.

It’s been so long in coming –

First the thought,

Then some humming,

But before I find my key,

Something stifles it in me.

What keeps my song from being sung?

Past hurts?

Deep fears?

A timid tongue?

What makes my freedom come so hard?

A self-made, live-in prison guard.

Meanwhile my song still groans in me,

I can’t be me until my song is set free.

Debating, hesitating, getting ready to sing,

My song could die like a stillborn thing.

“Release your song,” said the Spirit to me,

“Be free!  Be free!  It’s jubilee!

Cast out each fearsome song patrol,

Proclaim deliverance to your soul!”

The Spirit of Life now flow through my blood,

I said, “yes!”

Something broke – it came like a flood.

Both from within and down from above

A kingdom built on the power of Love.

Thank God my song has been set free –

The rhythm and the words are right for me.

I’m finally ready to sing out strong,

My soul is saying, “this is my song!”

Know that you have a song – a purpose and place where you fit and belong.  Your song has been trying to manifest since before you were born, but life tends to speak louder than your soul.  Take time to listen for and release your song, even if it’s just in your quiet time with yourself.  Work through the fears and insecurities and baggage that hides your true self and listen for the melody, the tune, the lyrics to your own song.  How does this relate to love?  The best way to love yourself is to know yourself and embrace that person fully, and what better way than hearing and knowing the very core of your existence.  And once you know yourself and can walk in that, you can love yourself and love others, bringing healing to them as well.