April 20–27 ❘ Provocation
Provocation
When it seems the Lord delays
His descent to direct me through desert,
my fears mix with fire of anxiety
and out come all my familiar gods:
precious plans of personal design,
pursuit of financial security,
soft swaddle of sympathy from arms of flesh,
retreat to knowledge without insight.
I have often laid offerings of time,
talent, and energy upon their altars.
I have prayed for them to cover
old wounds and imagined these idols
to be rescues of last resort.
But raw life eventually grinds
all to powder, erodes me
to a primitive state in wilderness.
I return, remembering the only One
who ever led me out of Egypt
dropped small, sweet crumbs
from heaven.
Read more of my poetry at www.facebook.com/latterdaysaintpoetry
Contact me at merrijane.rice@gmail.com
