ANALOGIES  OR  REALITIES                                          So many instructions    I’ve been trying to walk, In life, as pertaining to me.    I find myself thinking, Oh no, not this;    Another analogy!   You say, come as a child;    Come, sit on My lap. Then, why, I wonder,    Do I feel so trapped?   You said, Hate my life;    You said, I must die. I’m really trying to understand why.    I thought You did this So that I could live.    I really thought that That’s what you said.   I so understand that I don’t deserve    All that you did for me; But I need more than words    Here, in this life And clever analogies.   Did you pay for sin?    Am I righteous or not? Am I free from the law?    Men tell me I’m not.   I thought I was free    To walk in this “good”. At least that’s the way    That I understood...   Your good news that thrilled me;    And favor unearned, That was easy entreated,    Not hard to discern.   You say, Come as a child    With no inhibitions And tell Me all of your fears.    Your response to this way Of truth is this:    I will wipe away all of your tears   I’m wondering now    If I can’t grow-up With my feet planted here,    in this earth. Can maturity only come    In Your arms, In the land of original birth?   Is the “narrow gate”    And the “needle’s eye” Where only I am allowed,    To sit on Your lap, Without all my cares    While You’re teaching Your own dear child?   As You hold my hand    And my fingers touch The scars that remain for me,    My confidence grows And you send me back out    With a little maturity.   You say, “Hurry back,    And we’ll talk some more, But leave your baggage    Outside of My door. My only interest    Is seeing you And the others you’ll love    That will come in too.   Next visit, we’re laying    On the soft green grass, Looking in waters    That are clearer than glass, And You say, “From Me,    Especially for you; Our place of peace    And security too.”   “You know the way;    Your cry opened My door; My ears always listening,    And I’ll never ignore Your need for Me,    That I formed in you, So you’ll know first-hand    What I can do!”   You say, “This is your home,    Right here, in My heart, The actual place,   That you got your start.   I saw you coming,    Before you arrived; The feast is ready,    Come, sit at My side.   “I Am so sorry for all of the pain;    But you’re safe with Me now And never again,    Will I suffer your lose, As I unfold My Heart    And the power of My Cross That secured your start.   As I watched you bent down    With that terrible load, You broke with the weight    And your cry did explode Right into My ears,    And the door flew open. As I picked up My child    All battered and broken.”   The only thing that    Made me let go Is, I couldn’t carry the load.    I never knew Your wisdom would rot, Unless it was freshly told.   What an insult it is,    To try to get in, To present Your wisdom to You.    To come as a child And get free food,    Is what You’ve been leading me to.   This makes so much sense,    I’m beginning to see, A fresh portion each day,    Is what’s waiting for me. I never knew that yesterday’s portion,    Must stop outside of Your Door. Even though it’s from You,    It’s rotten today, Because a fresh portion    Is always Your way.   “Now, your steps become sure,    As I watch your growth, Remembering  I said,    About My Oath: I swore by Myself,    Because there’s no greater, Reserved for you now    And not sometime later.”   “So you go out and then,    Hurry back in To your green pastures with Me;    Because you’ve decided, My very dear child,    This is where you want to be.”    I sit at Your feet,    Now, ready to hear, Not able to carry all of my gear.    I see, when You said To train up a child,    In the way that they should go, You meant, here at home,    In Your domain, So that they could safely grow      Then, go out mature, With confidence knowing,    Not left to the world To form their growing.   I think, as I’m walking    This road toward You, Expecting to come to an ending,    You surprise me again, And I find that’s not true;    The end has become My beginning!   So, thank you, My Lord,    For hearing my cry And sharing Your wisdom with me.    Back home with You, Unmerited Love    And liquid security too.