A Blind-Found Solution

                This summer, I went through a very difficult time, and I was blessed to have a very close friend that was willing to help me through it.  But it wasn’t a one-way street.  My friend was also going through a difficult time, and after spending a lot of time hurting on our own, we escaped our painful situations together.  New situations have come up for each of us, but we still help each other through whatever is happening, and always will.  I call this “A Blind-Found Solution” because neither of us knew about those first problems we had until they were too painful for us to keep to ourselves.

A Blind-Found Solution

Close eyes
Open arms
Open to harms
Torn by lies
 

Close eyes
Open hands
Give up plans
Hope dies

Close eyes
Darkness becomes
Feeling to numb
A soul cries

Close eyes
Open hearts
Falling apart
Our soul flies

Away

The Martyr's Cry- Opinion and Poem for American Martyrs

     What is a martyr?  When my friend's mom recently lost her job because of her faith, I was forced to ask myself this question.  According to Dictionary.com, a martyr is "a person who is put to death or undergoes extreme suffering on behalf of any belief, cause, or principle."  As I read this, I was forced to ask myself another question- what would I be willing to lose for what I believe?  I like to think that I could give up everything for what I believe, but honestly, I don't know how much I could lose before I would give up. 

     Recently, in Arizona, a group of people were arrested for holding church services in the homes of some of those people.  When we think of martyrs, too often we think of people who were killed long ago by Romans or burned at the stake in the Middle Ages.  But few of us think about kids that are bullied at school and lose their friends for their beliefs.  Few of us think about pygmies in Africa that are eaten alive for their beliefs by rebel militias.  Few of us think about people who lose their jobs or lose business because they aren't afraid to share what they believe.  Before you read any farther, say a prayer for Cheryl, the woman that lost her job.  Pray that she'll be able to find a new job and stay strong in her faith, and that her former employer will realize their mistake.

     This is what I think I would say, were I in a situation where I became a modern martyr.  More than that, it's the attitude I've seen in people that face difficult circumstances for their faith or beliefs.

     Do you have anything that you feel passionately about?  What is it, and how far would you go to protect it, or what would you be willing to lose for it?  Let us know in the comments section.


-Mortimer

The Martyr's Cry

Say what you will
Do what you must
If it gives you a thrill,
Betray my trust

Open your eyes
Pride, your disguise
Fills you with lies
Please realize

Your greatest mistake,

Your biggest problem

But when you wake,

Your heart is hardened

Oh, Lord, don't forsake me
Lord, I beg you, stay close
Oh, Lord, help me see

The good through all the reproach

My cry rises

My heart sinks

The enemy realizes

The enemy thinks

How can I stand alone?
How can my family see me low?

How can I push through an still carry on,

When all that I worked for is dead and gone?

Lord, help me face the time ahead

Moments or years, I know not when

And though it leave me dead,

Help me stay true to the end.

Don't Run Away

Here's one of the ones Mortimer and I came up with over the summer.  Hope you enjoy it!
-Jacob

Don't Run Away

Don't run away

I'm here to stay

Listen to me say
It will be okay

When it feels like you've lost your strength

When you don't think you can make it through

When you fight to keep your faith

Don't run away, I'm down here, too

Don't go hide

Don't fear pride,
The watching eyes

And screaming lies

When it feels like you've lost your drive

When you think you can't trust the truth

Know that you can thrive
Don't go hide, I'm down here, too

Whatever you do,

Wherever you go

Whatever they tell you,

Don't run away, I'm here with you

Monsoon: A Lesson Learned

 This summer was definitely very different than any I've had before.  Long days of school early in the summer and aggressive physical training towards the end meant that I usually had something to do.  I wouldn't say that this was a good summer, though.  I trained, but I didn't reach my goals.  I had a lot of tough moments over the summer that were eventually offset by good things later on.  But if there's one thing I can say about this summer, it's that it taught me a lot of lessons.  This poem is about one of those lessons.  I hope you enjoy it, but more importantly, I hope that it makes you think.  About what, I'm not sure, but I'm sure you'll think  of something  as you read, and maybe this will make you pay attention to something you've been overlooking.  Anyway, here it is: Monsoon.

-Mortimer

Monsoon

Storms roll
And bells toll
To remind me of what I’ve been told

Thunder's crash
And times pass
But my choices haunt from the past

Lightning’s streak
And lions seek
To destroy us, lowly and meek

Clouds rain
And seasons change
But don’t remove all of the pain

Mud sticks
Makes me sick
I can’t quite avoid the painful prick

Skies vent
What I meant
Was not the direction they’re bent

In shallow seas
Do as you please
But I’ll not respond to your pleas

Ships thrash
And rocks dash
I’ll be gone when you burn to ash

When storms roll
And the bells toll
They remind me they watched it unfold