Solar

This poem was originally written ten years ago, in 2014 as a submission to DevoZine, a devotional magazine for teens published by The Upper Room.   The theme for the submission was “The Skin You’re In.”  Revisiting it all these years later, I find it to be a beautiful metaphor for Lent. 

Solar

She crouches in the shadows

her sin a blanket around her.

In breathing she finds herself

smothered by the stuffy truth.

She imprisons herself, ashamed

of her imperfections, her weaknesses.

Tangled in herself, unable to see God

her sins keep her from His call.

What lies beyond the iron gates

seduces her mind for a moment,

but to pass through those bars

she must leave fear to ashen dust.

She has to let go of the hands that hurt her,

the ones she let herself get lost in;

a broken heart, a body misused,

a mind unbridled.  She drops the cloak, hears His call.

Timid, she steps into the light.

Passion within awakens

and she reflects a flame.

Gates open, she sets herself free. She is the sun.

LTM 2014

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.- Matthew 5:14-16 (NRSV)