We bear the mark of mortality;
A tear in the fabric of our souls-
A void, left empty.
We long for fulfillment.
We seek to satisfy our emptiness at all times-
Constantly stuffing ourselves full of earthly notions of "good"-
Seeking acceptance,
We adhere to standards we set by ourselves
And loathe ourselves when we fail to meet them.
We crave the riches of the earth;
We strive, lifelong, for financial success,
Measured by the depth of pockets,
The weight of titles,
And the length of our Golden Years.
Yet in the essence of the Word
There is a greater call
A call to transcend;
To defy all bounds,
And to level the field;
To grasp the truth of mankind's reality:
We are all the same.
There is no greater man,
Nor is there one less-
Of dust we are formed,
To dust we return;
Both rich and poor
Rot in their graves.
So, we should live in the same way.
Loose ourselves of convention's ropes,
Abandon the expectations of a fallen world,
Whose eyes lust after gold and jewels,
Which cannot prosper the soul.
Our Master has placed talents in our care;
We must not bury them in the ground,
Nor waste them in pursuit of riches.
Invest in the kingdom, all you artists:
Sing your songs with passion;
Write your poems with zeal;
Color your canvas with the Glory of God,
For His eyes and His ears are tuned in.
Invest in the kingdom, all you wise men:
Ponder the vast universe with wonder;
Calculate the sum of years with humility;
Extol the complexity of the Creator's design,
For His eyes and His ears are tuned in.
Invest in the kingdom, all you mighty ones:
Fight your battles with dignity;
Face your opposers with integrity;
But do not forget the mercy given unto you,
For the Just and Merciful One watches and listens.
And you, wealthy men and women,
You must divide your riches:
Give much to the poor, for their need is great.
What remains, give to God;
Offer it up with an open hand,
For every gift comes from above and is not yours to own,
But God's to use through you.
Do not let things drive you;
Do not let gold drag you down;
Let love be your captain,
And grace be your sails,
As you cast off into the stormy seas.
And you, poor men and women,
You must be humble:
Accept from others only what you need,
For God has provided.
Take no more, and always give thanks,
For God has been faithful and has provided,
That you may prosper by Him.
Let every man and woman-
Young and old;
Rich and poor-
Let every man and woman humble themselves;
Let them give thanks to God, who alone can give and take away,
Who brings healing to the sick and cares for the broken,
And who will judge all at the end of time,
According to their hearts, and actions thereof.
Let every man and woman praise God.
Cassidy Claire Johnson © 2014.
Much of the inspiration for this poem comes directly out of the Bible, specifically the Book of James. I've found myself studying James 1 & 2 quite a bit lately, and it's had a massive impact on the way I look at Christianity and living a life that pleases God. I've been wrestling with the issue of financial status lately, and this poem arose out of internal conflict between the life I've lived for all of my seventeen years and the life I desire to chase after: a life of humble means; a life of giving; a life built upon Steadfast Love that seeks to lead the collective soul of mankind by the hand into a blessed, beautiful existence, where moth and rust cannot destroy. It seems an easy decision to make, yet the daunting notion of relinquishing all control puts up a wall into which I am constantly running. Here's to hoping for better.