No Other Place to Go

and the Cross in the sky

“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go.” Abraham Lincoln

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What does it mean to suffer? How do we know the suffering child?

Since I have been on Substack God has brought me multiple stories of suffering. Many who need down-on-your-knees prayers, intercessors day and night. Lately, I have found myself waking in the middle of the night calling out names, begging God for mercy — for healing. For my friends.

My understanding, in reflection, began in 2020 when sobbing would wake me in agony. So much so that my eyes were glued shut in the tears of heavy sleep before the pain would wake me. He has been so good to grow my heart to a place where that grief has been turned over and made deeper for those who are struggling to get through the day and night. In agony.

As an artist, I can experience days of rumination — “not made for this earth, help me Jesus mode — come now. But those feelings hold so much power in the telling of our connection to a Greater Power. And in turn, I have learned to pour that plague upward in prayer for others.

There are children struggling with physical afflictions and many suffering with mental health. Often one leads to the other. When I say children, I mean all of God’s children. Young and old. Every race, creed and color. Some haven’t had a chance to grow up and many are all grown up but living under the veil of hard childhoods, circumstances or bad choices.

We are all children of God wrestling in different seasons. Some — a lifetime.

To every child that craves peace in the storm of pain. To the grownup children who have lost their way, their hope, livelihoods, relationships — their children, loved ones — to death, estrangement, jail, the streets. I see you. And I know you carry anguish, hard health seasons, and sometimes a ticking clock, while trying to be brave for your family. To the young that are battling hard trials, ill health, mental anguish, loss, unfortunate behavior “from friends.”

Prayer is listening. You are never alone, even when you think you are.

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“Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, and honor of a Christian.” -- C. H. Spurgeon

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The following is a poem I wrote for a struggling young child, who is pressed into my conversations with God daily.

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Wild child of sea and storm

wrestling waves in artful form

Drown out your demons

unravel their throne

You are known

in this race

HUMAN.

Beauty and grace

Love is your Master

faith in disaster

Merciful, true

No points to accrue.

GLORY

in exchange for your story

oceans will calm

peace your balm

Rich haven

Salvation

Art defined

Electrifying, brazen

Fearless child of Mine

“Color is descriptive. Black and white is interpretive.” — Elliot Erwitt

Won’t you pray with me? Close your eyes. You will see the faces.

Nothing to lose.

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mixed media: the sea by me, image ripped from my poetry book + a picture I tore out of a magazine.

and the Cross in the sky…

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