Voice of Truth: 4th Edition, July/August 2021

Wide Open Wonderment THESE BROKEN BONES WILL REJOICE written by Rachel Dube Crushed.

Dreams are crushed.

Paint the sky black and turn the flowers to dust.

I don’t want to see the sky glimmer in gold at sunset.

I don’t want even familiar faces, much less those I haven’t met.

The laughter of my heart that sang and danced Like the grass of the field when the wind sweeps by Is quiet, except when I have to fake it.

And as soon as I’m alone, all I can do is cry.

Make me the wind Without feeling or home or connections.

Set me free in the world to run in all directions.

I was once a fresh apple, But I rolled out into the sun.

Days ago, I was lively, luscious red, Shouting, “Life is delicious!”

But now I am dead.

And because I am withered and my color is gone, I don’t want color in any part of the world.

I want every hum to be my sad song.

I have my black and white piles of paint And I mix them together furiously.

I paint scores of life’s most beautiful things, But they all turn out as gray monotony.

But somehow amidst the darkness, Just when I’ve decided to lay down and let life beat me, Bright colors, full life and deep love, Though seemingly distant, still pursue and entreat me.

Because Jesus himself, God who became man Died on a cross on the darkest of days, So that when I say I can’t wake up He tells me I can.

He reminds me that He didn’t die And come up from the dead For me, who has His power as my strength, To be a withered, hardened heart who won’t get out of bed.

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