the antithesis of a Poet [!]

antithesis of a Poet

Let my words speak for themselves:

Bold, Crunchy, Smooth, Rough

Like peanut-butter on bread

Spread it on. Thick.

Take a bite. Eat.

Be enlightened.

Grow.

Let my words speak for themselves

For if you look at me you may not relate

For you will find:

No afro hair,

No emancipative stare,

No slogan tee,

No cause to free-

Just me

Relatively speaking, I am not what you see

I am what I speak

Having the power of life and death on my taste-buds

I choose Life

And boy… is it sweet!

Let my words speak for themselves

For they have life,

And can give life;

If you will receive LIFE

Let my words speak for themselves

For maybe within them you may recognize:

Footsteps heard in shoes you once wore

The taste of an-almost love that knocked at your door

Fears of the future, concealed in your past

Dying for truth;

Living for lies in contrast to:

Hope

Let my words speak for themselves;

For, I am the antithesis of a Poet

Here you will see:

No poetry slams, no hip-hop jams

No feminist fads or political jabs

No mentality of race, but a desire for space

To

                                                                                              just 

be

                                                     Me.

I couldn’t colour outside the lines ‘cos I didn’t even have a pencil

When I stopped to ask for directions, teacher’s just handed me a stencil

But, I knew I was born “break the mould”

I Love Life

But I’m not sold

Cos’ I was bought with a price

And it’s so nice

To finally be free,

Basking in my True Identity

Found only in Him who has gone before me,

Loves me; adores me

Constantly assures me

That I am made in the image of ONE- who is three

The perfect design of a spiritual being

Beautiful, adorable- altogether irreplaceable

Born to love and to be loved; my heart- unshakeable

In passion, alive with fire and mystery

Designed to show forth the praises of The Holy Trinity

To testify of the wonders of His grace and glory

To speak Fire and Life; to share my story…

Let my words speak for themselves

For I am the antithesis of a poet,

I am conduit

“He who believes in me as the Scripture has said: ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.‘” John 7:38

Until then...

Keep becoming His best.

© 2012 Allison Pillay

Of Blizzards & Cupcakes: Seasons of Faith

My Dear Friends,

I apologise for my short hiatus and for not posting sooner. I was catching up with some college work, but now I that am back, I hope to encourage and inspire you once more. Ideally, I would like at the very least to have a post per week, but as God leads, I will follow.

What a wonderful new season we are entering into here in South Africa- Spring! Everything is coming alive again; flowers bloom, landscapes change and a feeling of possibility permeates. How often do we find the seasons of nature reflected in our own lives?

Spring: Life abounds, joy is found, the air thick with expectation.

Summer: Seems to last forever with it's long days and endless nights. I remember my summer's in Chicago: Potbelly's pistachio ice-cream, my after-work swim in the lake and Salsa dancing with my friends...Sigh.
Sunsets at 10pm. Who doesn't love summer?

Autumn: nature's spectacular prelude to winter: Harvest-time, apple cider, beautiful hues of red, gold and brown as the leaves metamorphasize once more. (Can you tell I miss Chicago yet, lol?)

But then the flurries come. Or, here in South Africa, the wind. 
And before we know it, Winter is here. 

Sometimes in life, we try to fight the winter season.  Much like the great blizzard of February 2011, when we were snowed in for almost a week. We knew it was coming- and we didn't like it! Life came to a screeching halt. Roads would be closed down. There were already people stuck on the freeway from Chicago. I had to get supplies. Fast.

Me+ 3 kids under 8+ No school= #thinkonyourfeet and Pray!!!

Well, 3 cakes [a giant cupcake counts, ok:)]; 4 batches of cookies; 7 art projects; 2 movies [only 2!-I know!!], 5 games of Battleship and 1 AMAZING PIRATE-TREASURE-HUNT-DELUXE later, the snow cleared. 
The snow-blower came out, together with the sun. I had survived, and the scale was proof of my battle scars- Ouch! Still, while my success was evident, I knew that if I had spent more time preparing indoor activities for the kids- prior to the storm- I would have been better equipped for it.

Sometimes, life's like that. Sometimes, God warns us when we are about to go through a "blizzard" and need to stock up on spiritual supplies. Spending daily time in His presence and in His Word is vital, so that when the storms of life and winter seasons come- we can stand; we can overcome. There is nothing like the presence of the Living God to refresh a weary soldier. His Spirit lifts us up to a place of rest and renewal. We believe again, trust again, hope again- LIVE again.

Training our inner ear to hear His voice, amongst the many voices out there, is also vital. By listening to His voice, we are led to His will where we find peaceful pastures and abundant life.

"My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me." 
                                                                                             John 10:27

Only God truly knows what is best for you today. He has promised that He will guide us with His eye (Psalm 32:8). You CAN trust Him completely because He loves YOU completely.

The Practice of The Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence is once such book that has brought a depth in understanding the wisdom of abiding in His presence. It has also helped me to better comprehend the seasons of life, and thus left an indelible impression on my walk of Faith. Here is one such excerpt about his views;

"During the winter, Herman looked at a barren tree, stripped of leaves and fruit, and realized it awaited the sure hope of a springtime revival and summer abundance. Gazing at the tree, Herman grasped deeply the extravagance of God's grace and the unfailing sovereignty of divine providence. Like the tree, he felt seemingly dead, but held hope that God had life waiting for him, and the turn of seasons would bring fullness. At that moment, he said, that leafless tree "first flashed in upon my soul the fact of God," and a love for God that never ceased."

                                                              

What a hope!!

So, when you feel the storms of life approaching, or become unsettled by the changing seasons- remember:

" Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow."                                        

                                                               James 1:17 ISV      

Seasons may change, but God alway remains the same: Faithful.

       

Until later...

Keep Becoming His Best

© 2012 Allison Pillay