LIGHT AND SHADOW
The light and shadows play today
One moment sunny, the next moment gray,
The wind does its work, sculpting the air
One moment gloomy, the next moment fair.
It's much like the way it is with my life
One moment calm, the next moment strife,
I'm never quite sure how the wind will blow
One moment high, the next moment low.
Sometimes I wish the wind would cease
And bring me some quiet, bring me some peace,
But it continues to blow and blow and blow
Taking me where? I just never know.
There must be a way to control the air
So that every day dawns sunny and fair,
There must be a way to control my life
So there never exists a day with strife.
But I have never found a way
To control what happens in the course of a day,
I do not know how to harness the wind
Nor how to alter a world filled with sin.
So each day I wonder what the wind will bring
Will I be crying, or will I sing,
Up and down I'm carried and blown
Twisted by forces completely unknown.
Oh, I am tired, and in much need of rest
I need a day when with peace I am blessed,
But where to turn, I cry out in pain
For after all, today it might rain.
Then a Voice so quiet, a Voice so still
A Voice that works outside my will,
Speaks to the wind a word of peace
And tells the storms, "No more, now cease."
The light and shadows will always play
One moment sunny, the next moment gray,
But the Voice does His work, sculpting the air
While always keeping me under His care.
Yes, that is the way it is with my life
One moment calm, the next moment strife,
But though I don't know how the wind will blow
The Light always leads me where I should go.
© Sharon Kirby
January 7, 2013
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In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. |
"The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." (Psalm 19:8, NIV)
"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
(Psalm 119:105, NLT)
"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."
(Psalm 36:9, NIV)
"I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."
(Isaiah 42:16, NIV)
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8:12, NIV)
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:5, NLT)
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."
"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"
(Isaiah 9:2 / Luke 2:9-11, NIV)
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
(Christmas Carol - We Three Kings)
How does the Light shine in your shadows?
Linked today with:
Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Laura at PLAYDATES WITH GOD
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Jen at UNITE
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAYS
Rosilind at A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Judith at WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAYS
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Jacqueline at ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Beth at THREE WORD WEDNESDAY
Kasey at WALKING REDEEMED
Lyli at THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY
Bonnie at FAITH BARISTA JAM
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Leslie at FAITHFUL FRIDAY
Sandy at STILL SATURDAY
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
Salina at HEART REFLECTED
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Oh Sharon...this poem hit the nail on the head. I didn't realize you were also a poet! You have captured the truth ever so perfectly in your beautiful poetry!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Sharon your beautiful heart comes out in your writings.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!! I didn't realize you were a gifted poet as well as an inspired devotional writer, Sharon! Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 42:16 is perfect for me right now...
ReplyDeleteThis poem is beyond wonderful...so beautiful, and so true!
Blessings and love ~ Lisa~
Pam you have aptly described how it is for many of us. Very well written poem.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and inspirng Sharon! I loved the message of the poem and how you wrote it, it just flows really nicely!
ReplyDeletebetty
You captured the relentless push and pull of shadow versus light so well, Sharon. Thank you for linking up with #HearItUseIt - I so appreciate your participation!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your loved ones the very merriest Christmas.
We often wonder where we are being blown and tossed to! Follow the light as it brings us out of the darkness. Thank you for your beautiful poem shared with us here at "Tell Me a Story."
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon for expressing so well our feelings of "light and shadow" as they dart to and fro ... and capturing the essence in this beau-ti-ful metered poem of His Voice, almost like a song (?)(which you commented to me that perhaps you should do more singing outside of church, well, you do in your own lyrical words) as a form of worship since Jan./7/13 and before ... somehow what I read this morning in the new book that I'll be reviewing (under a deadline now to finish) speaks to this in my opinion ... author is at the Kotel (Jewish prayer wall in Israel) "... I'll always remember the awe I felt today when praying at the Kotel---and also the JOY I saw on the other worshipers' faces. Worship and prayer are ways to approach a holy, righteous, and gracious God who is waiting to meet us. The curtain of separation has been torn in two, and we can feel the warmth of His love --- like sun-warmed stones --- any time and in any place." (p.118) as you have written to me often about your perspective of "Emmanuel" (God with us, in us) dwelling: the Voice, the wind, in the rain or in the SONshine, in the Light or in the shadow ... of His Cross. My heart now wonders as I wander and sing with you ... "We 3 Kings" ... may our lives remain in the calm, the cleft of the Rock, under the shadow of the Almighty, in our life in Him, because as we grow in the shadow of the well-rooted, living Branch of Jesse, tree of life, "In Him was life and the life was the Light ...". This Light draws me into the warmth of His love and His Light even in the shadows, even in the gray or clouded view ... I can hope for seeing more of Him and His glory!
ReplyDeleteSo I will press on in the peace or the pain,
Knowing full well, I seek heaven's gain.
It came in a manger, on a sweet holy night,
His name is Jesus, He is my Light.
Peace and love in Jesus' Name,
Peggy
Wonderful poem and I think it something we all wonder at times in our lives.
ReplyDeleteVery nice.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, it is so nice to know the Light will lead us wherever we need to go.
Hi Sharon! I could really relate to this poem, believe me! So well describes the life on earth...and who the heck knows what God has in mind in all of it?
ReplyDeleteI love the concept of light in the darkness, so I enjoyed your quotes on Christ as the light. In the end, it's the only light that will bring me peace in the crazy days and events that I just don't understand. That's the Christmas story too. Nobody understood how Jesus could come from where he did either.
I always enjoy your posts Sharon, and this one is no different. Bless you for your encouraging writing.
Happy Wednesday :)
Ceil
Simply beautiful, Sharon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Woman to Woman's Word Filled Wednesday! God bless!
That is beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon, for your beautiful, thoughtful poem. God bless.
ReplyDeleteLovely!!! Yes...just lovely. I'm SO grateful you found your way to Three Word Wednesday and shared with us there. So delighted to have you and hope you return. Beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas,
Beth
Sharon, we had a shadow-filled, windy day today at our house, so reading your poem tonight has applied a little salve to my spirit. (Plus, that verse from Isaiah 42 is an extra blessing!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Thought-Provoking Thursday. :)
Sharon~so beautiful. I pray your days will be filled with more bright light to lift your spirit. Will write more later.
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Janis
just lovely...
ReplyDeletefollow the light, follow THE LIGHT
He will not lead you astray!
"I'm never quite sure how the wind will blow
ReplyDeleteOne moment high, the next moment low."
So true! Yet we always have the Light to follow. Yes. Grateful!
Love it. Understood much of it, fit into my life. AND I loved the fact that the Light is how we are being led around and protected and kept. Thank you much. Enjoyed reading, seeing it, having it fit into my heart.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem - you spoke to my heart today, Sharon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at Essential Fridays.
Have a blessed Christmas and New Year.
Mel from Essential Thing Devotions
mmm ... ain't that for sure when you say 'I'm never quite sure how the wind will blog.' Now, to rest in the hands of the One who holds the planet together ... Thanks for this gentle reminder on this advent weekend!
ReplyDeleteSharon, I love this. Your poetry is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful poem, Sharon...and one I can so relate to!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Joan