Solemn Vow

And now, today at this very hour,

I make this solemn vow

to myself,

the one of whom I used to be ashamed,

the one whom I hid from

while looking in the mirror,

the one who would always take on the blame

for the misdeeds of others.

 

And now, today at this very hour,

I make this solemn vow

to myself,

my beautiful, sacred, lovely self,

the one whom I cherish

whom I guard,

the one who

is precious in the sight of the Lord.

 

Never again

will I sacrifice

my hopes, my dreams,

my very self

on a funeral pyre

to appease

those who believe

I am unworthy.

 

Never again

will I debase myself

and compromise all I believe

just to fit in

to be accepted

to be loved

by others

who only want to use me

abuse me

and then abandon me

when there is nothing

left in me

to give.

 

 

 

 

Never again

will I

let the words of self-hatred

form upon my lips

nor let the poison of unbelief

creep into my soul.

 

I will honor this temple

of the Lord.

I will beautify

my gardens

and feed those

whom come my way

with the fruit

of His love.

 

For I am

a vessel of His love

a cup of His cool water

to those who thirst.

 

I am a blanket of His comfort

to those who mourn,

a pillar of His strength

for those who lack faith,

a song of His joy

for those who have lost

the music of life.

 

The Awakening

Rise,

Uncurl your body and stand erect.

Dust off

the injustices

of the past

and put on forgiveness.

Let your knees extend.

Steady your wobbly legs

and plant your feet

firmly on the ground.

May they be pillars

of strength and grace.

 

Uncover your face

and remove your hands.

Let not the veil of fear and shame

shroud the lights of mercy.

 

For the time of lamentations has passed.

The season of mourning has been lifted.

Shed your garments of black.

Array yourself in ribbons of color.

 

Cast away the stones

that made your heart heavy.

Breathe in the air of joy,

let your anxieties

float away

like vapor on the wind.

 

For the time of feasting has arrived.

Come to the table

for the King has desired your restoration

and He delights in your beauty.

 

Cathedral

Incense

Vapor of Heaven,

the smell of Mercy.

Prayers rise

on tendrils of smoke

and the echoes of bells

to the throne of the Lord.

 

Icons

Windows to Heaven.

Images

of the Lord

of the blessed saints

help us enter into

the Holy of Holies.

Heads bows

Bodies prostrate

Fingers make

the sign of the Cross

Lips kiss

the hem of Grace.

 

Byzantine Chant

Music of Heaven

Ancient tones

Ring out

Comfort,

Truth,

and Faith.

 

Chalice

Body of Christ

Immersed in

the Blood of Christ.

Healing Medicine

on the tip

of a spoon.