Dear Navel

Dear navel,

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The road back to you

is not the way to happiness

It is a path that awakens weeds

of pride under tread

that strangle the source

of confidence in our creator

who loves us so lavishly

that he paves for us a path

by his Word and his voice

to wholeness and pleasure

and satisfaction beyond measure

where finally

we lack not a thing

not a treasure

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Self-scrutinization

makes people, horizons

And places

mirage destinations

Gifts take attention

from their giver in deception

when emptiness waxes

in misplaced affections

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The world tells us we can

navigate with its wisdom

Map with our minds

and follow our wayward hearts

to true north to grasp the land

that we are designed to desperately

long for with reaching hands ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

every glimmering idol

turns to sand

and slips

through

our

fingers ⠀⠀⠀

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They were always sand

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It's all just sand

apart from You, oh Lord

Your Word removes the haze

that clouds our gaze

Your voice lifts our eyes

above the maze

of noise and sets

our feet upon the rock

that scatters every self-sufficient

false fear and notion

calms culture's commotion

and parts the waters of every ocean

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Looking up and not in

is when deep change begins

In the cross that's healed sin

is where You lift weary chins

We are made in Your wonder

Complete by surrender

In wonder we wake

To You for our sake

Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” Joseph 41:51

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5