Salvation

Rays of light dance in broken strands through clouds,
Touching points of bustle upon the surface of earth.
People and cars scurrying around,
As if mice in a lab rat’s maze,
Each going to his own corner to conduct life.
Business cuts open the calm of night,
As each “to-do” list gets longer.
Emptiness replaces the fullness of dreams,
Dreaded reality seeps into a warm heart turning colder.
Fantasies give way to haunted nightmares,
As sleep wares off to the awaken stare.
Life fades way to death,
Dancing across vacant stares.
Warmth leaves the soul,
Rendering it to apathy and despair.
The last remnants of hope dissolve as the moon sets.
Humanity gives way to machinery,
Conformity takes over freedom.
Wars resume as battles are fought and lost.
The social machine ensues with torment and deceit.
Scalding the spirit, we reject the truth before us.
The Son of Man sets the captive free,
Though few acknowledge their captivity.
The looking glass reflects inhumanity,
Soaking up injustice and treachery.
But man searches for the unknown,
While not admitting the fault of his own.
How long will greed win out,
The soul waging war against itself?
St. Paul professes the plight of man,
Expressing in words the human contradiction.
Each one desires good while practicing evil,
Putting into action the desires of the sinful self,
The soul is torn in two—
Seeking that from above,
Succumbing to that from below.
The battle of spirit and flesh,
Old as time itself,
Wages war on all that is good,
Destroying all that is right.
The Image within us,
Woos man to the heights of joy,
The flesh seeks all in its path to destroy.
The hope we cling to the Spirit receives,
Producing fruit no man can cultivate.
The Gardener prunes and weeds,
Causing to grow love, joy, patience, kindness,
Goodness, faithfulness, self-control, and peace.
In His loving care, man’s heart conceives,
A glimmer of hope dispelling darkness,
Leaves man with rest most dire.
In the hurts of society, his heart breaks,
In the delight of the Lord his heart sings.
Redemption grasps its hold,
Salvation manifest in rest.
Mourning gives way to gladness,
An unexplainable joy no longer shall recess.
The soul cries out in delight,
As the Christ dissolves the night.