Into the Light by Ellie Holcomb

Into the Light
by Ellie Holcomb

I am not who I once was

 Defined by all the things I've done

 Afraid my shame would be exposed

 Afraid of really being known

 But then you gave my heart a home

 

So I walked out of the darkness and into the light

 From fear of shame into the hope of life

 Mercy called my name and made a way to fly

 Out of the darkness and into the light

 

With years of keeping secrets safe

 Wondering if I could change

 'Cause when you're hiding all alone

 Your heart can turn into a stone

 And that's not the way I want to go

 

So I walk out of the darkness and into the light

 From fear of shame into the hope of life

 Mercy called my name and made a way to fly

 Out of the darkness and into the light

 

There's no place I would rather be

 Your light is Marvelous

 Your light is Marvelous

 

You have come to set us free

 You are Marvelous

 Your light is Marvelous

 

[lalalalalalalala...]

 

So I walked out of the darkness and into the light

 From fear of shame into the hope of life

 Mercy called my name and made a way to fly

 Out of the darkness and into the light

 

[lalalalalalalala...]

Glimpses Only by Pollyanna Sedziol

Glimpses only

By Pollyanna Sedziol

Actually
it was the glory
of another autumn sunset
in which I intended to steep my soul
calling on
the constant wind
for evensong choir
and the blazing trees
as priestly vestiture.

But the reality
of children in and out,
dinner preparation
and attendant minutes conspired
to allow me ownly glimpses
of that paletted hour—
so goes forever
the Mary-Martha tension
of my life.

I am grateful for
the ability
to be grateful for
these glimpses only.

This was given to me 9/28/14 lovingly by a friend, M. I appreciate the time she took to do this and the lovely poem within. Her note is below.

Teri,

In my ‘digger & reflection’ time this week (my fall resources!) I came across this one in my journal from the late 70s!!

You see my dear, those of us destined to ‘introspection’ save, journal, debate with ourselves ~ will always strive for less and more ~ and beg nature & God to come along for the struggle—a journey—never a destination—but pulling at us always.

Enjoy the fall with this poem!!

Love,
M

Faith and Reason

**This poem is inspired out of the contradictions that have run through my life both interally and those lived out in the relationships I've had with friends and teachers. It is also inspired by a couple of influential people and pastors. Reading the book Love Wins by Rob Bell has inspired me to let go of some of the arguments I carry on in my head between factions of myself and my community. Yvette Flunder has given me language to both embrace the complicated text we call Scripture and use it appropriately in today's world. Thanks to them and my church family here and far that help me wrestle, wonder, and still belong.

Faith and Reason
by Teri VanLieshout
7/22/11

Faith and Reason
    two passions
  running forever deep
      in this immutable soul.

God,
  I see you
    in dendrites and DNA
  in evolution
       and the geologist's history.

Reason,
   I see you
  as a gift from Him
     not in contrast to
  but because of.

Faith,
   you are my companion
 in the Secular
    and the Sublime.
  I need you to stand
       on the shoulders of giants
   and in the arms of the Son.

Doubt,
   I know you too:
  "Maybe this is a lie
      I tell myself to feel better."
  But yet I know
    life IS better
        in connection with Him
  lived both ways, I’ve felt it in my heart.

I am
   not enough of a scientist
      for my science friends,
   not enough of a Zealot
      for my Christian friends
 so I am a Holy Misfit
    in this world
       of Either-Or.

I am
  a Both-And girl
 in an Either-Or world
     reaching toward the Infinite
  trusting in reason and thought
     faith and experience
 a Bible in each breath
     of the Natural World.

I trust
   You ARE
  as I am...  HERE
   and we are
      together.

I trust
  LOVE WINS!
 and life evolves
   both literally and figuratively.

I trust You
   in knowing You,
  I don't have to check
     my brain at the door.
  You gave me this brain,
      so I use it.

I don't believe
   You created
 throw-away-life
     it was all meant
   to BE
  and to be
     good.

Unscientists
   break the world
      into the sum of its parts.
Others
     break faith
    into the sum of ONE book
       interpreted by ONE person,
   the Bible-Answer-Man.

Yet I am a Both-And girl
   in an Either-Or world
  and I trust
     it's OK
  this Faith and Reason

I trust
   and doubt
 my belief in
    EVERYTHING
      42
  7,3, or 5
 mystic numbers
      and natural expression
  that go beyond
       finite understanding.

Faith and Reason
   you are my friends
  and I don't know why
     this world insists
  that you can't be friends
      with each other.

To know You
     to understand this world
        and the next
  I lean on  you both
   Faith and Reason

God of science
   science of God
 Reason is incomplete without awe
    as is blind faith
  So I trust
      in You.

God of Love
   Giver of Life
  The Grand Architect
And Cosmic Bowler,

Humans will know
   with certainty
      while You laugh
   in the margins.

Faith
   Scripture
  Experience
       Tradition
  and Reason

You are my companions
  my lens
    in this life
as I stretch toward the next.