I
In everything I saw from where I stood,
my vision spanning heaven and the earth,
were subtle kind reminders life was good,
enticing me to seek a sense of worth.
the way I saw no blessing was denied,
the flowing of the sunshine or the rain,
convinced me that where disciplines abide
the dross shall wash away and gold remain.
I set my soul against the crouching dark
endeavoring to master every sin,
then blew to life each dimming, dying spark
of faith, pursuing purity within.
The choice to order better, when I could
was something to exalt my personhood
II
was something to exalt my personhood
a thing to be pursued? I could not say.
Humility bred doubt, but passion stood
heroically to chase all doubt away
and reinforce my sense of holy pride.
in all my hands endeavored to achieve.
My faith and works were seamlessly applied
to manifest the things that I believe.
I turned my eyes to those I saw with needs
and took the time to sooth a wounded soul.
Then gently I’d illuminate misdeeds
applying truth to make the errant whole.
In me were love and justice intertwined.
I saw I was a gift to all mankind,
III
I saw I was a gift to all mankind,
to those around who bear the human flaw.
Compassion, like an endlessstream inclined
my heart so outwardly, the angels saw
the way my footfalls bless this guilty sod.
Though others traveled through and left no trace,
I chose a tear-soaked path; where I had trod
each imprint that I left reflected grace.
I stood upon the pinnacle of me
and looked to see if someone, anyone,
wascapable of rising up to be
this awesome thing I am, but I found none.
“Is anyone like me,so wise and kind?”
Quite logically, the question came to mind,
IV
Quite logically, the question came to mind,
“If there is none like me so greatly blessed
to stride like one with sight among the blind,
with such compassion, unlike all the rest,
“What am I then, if I am not a god?”
Then like a prayer that’s borne on wings of lead,
that still-born thought of misdirected laud
returned its awful weight upon my head.
My words were daggers, plunging to the hilt
in my own belly, gravely wounded I
was bathed inblood insolvent to myguilt,
and would have tasted death. But gods can’t die!
Then lavished with your undeserved esteem,
You woke me from that egocentric dream
,
V
You woke me from that egocentric dream
where fantasy and pride wove dark and light
so seamlessly together, it would seem
I could not disentangle wrong from right
revealing my self-image was a sham.
Your spirit and your word cut like a knife
to separate the idol from the man.
It seems I’d worshipped self most all my life.
And once that deed was done, I would have thought
that I was left bereft of anyworth.
But purchasers envalue what is bought.
You purchased me, and offered me rebirth.
Creation has a unify ing theme:
You showed me your desire to redeem
VI
You showed me your desire to redeem
at any cost, for all, refusing none
had mandated the ultimate extreme.
The body and the blood of your own son
imbues me with your worth, just as I am.
My tarry guilt, in its totality
was lifted off, and placed upon the lamb
to justify my soul and set me free..
As though the stone which secreted his tomb
was lifted from my tongue, now I can raise
my heart and mind to heaven and assume
an attitude of endless, selfless praise.
The guilt was mine, you took it in my stead!
You own this heart, invade this sorry head,
VII
You own this heart, invade this sorry head,
this sometime haunt of fantasy and pride.
So sanctify my mind, and there imbed
you law, so that your spirit may abide
and I shall learn to dream your dream instead:
where kids shall rest with lions at their side.
Your people follow gladly where they’re led,
and by your throne of grace, all tears are dried.
`
Now leaving “worth” behind, I gaze across
your dreamless real vistas, old yet new
and sheltered in the shadow of the cross
I stand beside the pinnacle of you.
Uncovering reminders God is good
In everything I saw from where I stood,
Reprise:
In everything I saw from where I stood,
the way I saw no blessing was denied,
was something to exalt my personhood
and reinforce my sense of holy pride.
I saw I was a gift to all mankind,
the way my footfalls bless this guilty sod.
Quite logically, the question came to mind,
“What am I then, if I am not a god?”
You woke me from that egocentric dream
revealing my self-image was a sham.
You showed me your desire to redeem
imbues me with your worth, just as I am.
You own this heart, invade this sorry head,
and I shall learn to dream your dream instead.