What kind of darkness..., Part 2

Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,
    imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
Ps. 107:10

Let the oppressed go free,
    and remove the chains that bind people...
Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Is. 58:6b, 9

...Help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. 
 The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
Is. 58:10b, 11


Is this what You mean Lord?
I thought it might be about something systemic
Perhaps related to sexuality
And the "bonds broken" happening through education

But sitting there beside him
In his darkness
And later pondering
I realized...
This is good
You want hope for him
And maybe this is what You mean
When You talk about removing the chains that bind people
And the heavy yoke of oppression

I sensed You guiding that day
Guiding the prayers, the tears, the words
And maybe this is what You mean
When You say my light will shine out from the darkness
And that You will guide me continually

Guide Lord, lead
And...please,
Shine into his darkness
Make his darkness into light
Restore hope and strength to his bones once again

This is the view from where I sat, the view out the loft window. He was to my left. Previously others were sitting there too, in that chair, and others nearby, sharing that sacred space and time, lifting prayers.

What kind of darkness..., Part 1

Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,
    imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
Ps. 107:10

Sitting
Praying
Weeping
Inviting
Hope and comfort
Come fill this home
Fill this life

What kind of darkness
What kind of despair
Leaves a man
Hiding
Avoiding
Running
Mostly silent

All day
Every day
In bed
Oh he eats
And washes
But otherwise
Just laying there

He doesn't like staying there either
Shakes his head
Weepy
Tears as we pray
He doesn't like it
But it's the best choice he can see
It is all he can do

Father
Please break through
May Your warm gentle light
Break into his darkness
Warm his heart
Invite him
Up
And out
And on with life

Father
For the glory of Your name
For the love You have for them
For the son that's waiting, yearning
For the life that is left to be lived
For the purpose You have planned
Break through
Make change
Give hope
And life
And strength
And...
Whatever is needed

Update Sept. 25, 2014--Yesterday I learned that he does not just sit in bed all day every day. True, he rarely speaks, but his son says he does get up to go foraging on the hills for various in season plants and other edibles.

How does one hold...

How does a heart hold all the pain?
How does one...
Sometimes I almost want to stop asking the questions, but...
There she is, coming to visit.
And she looks troubled, carrying burdens...
and so I/we ask, and find out more, and more...
ugh...how hard...

I don't know what to do,
almost don't want to start to get involved,
but...how can I not....
Three kids,
oldest just out of junior high,
working to make money to get treatment for her dad
Mom left with an other man earlier this year
The girl who told me--her mom died a couple of years back,
her brother is still trying to pay off the debts...
She is starting 2nd year university now...

All I can offer is--a hug, a prayer (she wanted the prayer!),
and now...tears.
Maybe some answers will come, maybe some wisdom.
Maybe we'll be able to help the younger girl...

How does a heart hold all the pain?
I'm talking about hers...
And I'm talking about mine
But for me...
I know
It doesn't
I come to You
And dump it out
Again and again
But her...
Help her to come too
To know You are real
That You also can be her refuge and strength

Tell me...

Tell me You think I'm beautiful
And that You love me
Just the way I am

Tell me again
and again

You did
It was wonderful
It was enough

But then I don't hear
And I wonder
And I'm tempted to overly seek
Or fall for
The affirmation of man
The folly of thinking that what people
Think about me
Is what really matters

Tell me every day
Cup my face in Your hands
Look in my eyes
Tell me again,
"You're beautiful to me.
I love you just the way you are."

If I hear You say this
I can live with joy
No matter what life throws at me
No matter what others think