Message on a Muntain

I visited a mountain upon instruction of the Almighty Creator,

Magnificent mountain - my favorite aspect of mother nature!

I was going to receive a message. It sounded imperative but almost mythical,

To hear the voice of God – is this even possible?

The laborious mountain looked down on me with hospitality and awe,

I frequently forget that as a man, I'm made in the image of the Almighty God.

It was a scorching, summer day. My back was wet with sweat. Music came from behind.

Chirp, chirp. Twitter, twitter. Freddie Mercury couldn't sound so divine.

Exhausted, I made it to the top – now what?

Was I about to truly hear the voice of God?

I stood there and waited when a windstorm came and brought dismay!

Birds flew backwards, grass was uprooted, trees crackled in pain, I was so afraid.

The terrifying and powerful windstorm drowned my screams,

What an entrance! Soon to come had to be the message God had for me.

But as the storm died, nothing came. I was exasperated. I didn't hear a single word.

Was there a misunderstanding? Did I nearly die?! Why on God's green earth?!

Rocks just crushed against rocks. It was unfathomably strong.

He missed out on the entrance of all entrances. Could something possibly have gone wrong?

As I stood dazed and confused, along came an earthquake!

Surely this was when I would receive my message, this notion could be no mistake.

The ground split open around the mountain as if I were surrounded by mouths,

Maybe God was running late and He wanted another entrance in order to astound.

The ground shook with vigor, it was unbelievable!

I never knew that such an experience was even possible.

I grasped onto what I could find for support,

And I waited to hear my message from the Lord,

But to my frustration and confusion, it never came,

What could God be doing that could cause Him to be so late?

The earthquake finally subdued and still no sign of His word,

I was alone on the mountain – still no sign of the Lord.

At this point, I took it personally,

Could the Almighty Creator be making fun of me?

I was being pretty selfish. I was having a pity party,

When a tumultuous fire came down and surrounded everything!

Surely this would be like the burning bush – we all know the story,

I looked around, all I could see was fire! It was all around me.

I still heard no voice, the immense sound of the fire was overpowering,

Now I was terrified. Hopefully God would soon come and save me.

The fire dissipated – still no message – nothing!

Maybe this was a test of patience. That was it – He was testing me!

Nothing came from the windstorm, earthquake, or fire,

Was that my message? Did He just want to show me His great power?

I thought I was going to hear the actual voice of God Almighty,

No metaphor, no force of nature, but the voice of the One who created everything.

I was perturbed, I was cranky, I was tired. Did He enjoy confusing me?

Was I being selfish? Was I being foolish? Was I being human – probably.

But wait! I was told that I would hear His voice. Until then, I would go no further.

I waited patiently for that voice, and it truly came – it simply came as a whisper.

Rejected and Lonely

Don't look down on me because I'm not the type for your preference,

I'll bet that deep down, you can't even tell the difference.

It crushes me that people won't invest the time to get to know me,

That's why I sit here as an outcast, a reject – I am so lonely!

I want nothing more than to be recognized for my taste,

What I have to generously offer, you should never waste.

THEY WILL PAY, those who have left me to rot on the curb,

Beautiful, glorious, and poetic justice will one day be served.

They think they have their precious friends by their side,

I know their so-called “friends” and their not worth the time.

Cheerios, Froot Loops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, and Lucky Charms,

Heed my warning, these guys will bring you nothing short of tremendous harm.

Toasty-O's, Tootie Fruities, Cinnamon Toasters, Marshmallow Matey's, and myself,

My name is Cocoa Crunchies and I have had more than enough!

People reject us because we're known as “off-brand” cereal,

Nobody deserves our fate. Our fate is unfair and completely cruel.

We are not too quick to absorb milk, don't believe the lies,

Purchase us, poor us in a bowl, drown us in whole milk, and you'll be in for a surprise.

Ruler of the World

The man said none could withstand his hand.

"With axes and hatchets and chisels and fire,

Nothing in nature interferes with my plan.

I'll settle North, West, or wherever I desire.

With the strength of my back and my wits so keen,

I have dominion of the land and all of her beasts.

I proudly proclaim the land knows her king,

But as every day passes I grow old and weak.

One day I will die; this is the way it must be.

My days are numbered and short.  I've passed my prime and my peak.

I'm the ruler of the world and so I take what I need,

Yet I feel insignificant when I view this oak tree."

The oak tree said he would be long here after.

"Unless with his axe he turns me to lumber.

The man can migrate with his legs and his feet,

But I have roots so this is where I'll be.

I wish I could ask him where he'd be without me,

For he loves to sit under the shade of my leaves.

I give rest to man and homes to beasts,

I give nests to the birds and to all I give peace.

With his days much shorter and my days much longer,

The man is a taker and I am a giver.

As I stay and watch as his bones become softer,

I wonder where we'd be if not for the river."

The river said he was the source of life.

"With power so strong none can argue,

All would perish if I run dry.

What concerns me isn't your points of view.

I am power and strength and I'm always running.

I don't stop for food or shade or sleep,

Life for beasts, old trees, and men so cunning.

It's quite a burden so I stay quite busy.

Truth be told there is one who is stronger,

In all my might I can't force him to move.

In all my days his days have been longer,

He's bigger than me, the tree, and the man too.

As time goes on he never seems softer,

I speak of the mountain who brings awe and wonder."

The mountain said above him none compare.

"Whether in strength or shade, contests are unfair.

My shade covers the shade of the trees,

No matter how strong, the river can't move me.

I give homes to the beasts and the birds of the air,

Compared with my strength the river despairs.

Feet covered in trees and head covered in snow,

I'm so mighty and tall and all the land knows.

Whatever in nature could defeat me?

But I feel smaller and weaker now as I speak.

The sound of a chisel - ting - ting.

The pain of the chisel - ting - ting.

How can this be, oh dismay!

The man so cunning chips me away!

With axes and hatchets and chisels and fire,

Not even I disrupt the man's desire."

Written During a Sunrise

Well, I've got these problems - these struggles that I have been experiencing every day.

I am desperate.  I am exhausted.  I have been expecting God to simply take them away.

But now I realize that these problems have to be faced,

So I bite my lower lip and I clench my fist just a bit, 

And I wait apprehensively, no, thankfully for all of the pain that lies ahead of me.

You see, if we never encounter pain, an enemy, or a problem,

Then how can we sincerely appreciate our aspired freedom?

That is such a powerful word... "Freedom", can I really comprehend it?

"FREEDOM!" can I truly experience it?

I think so.  I hope so.  You know what - I know so!

I've seen so many mornings, so many afternoons, so many evenings, and so many sunsets.

And so many of those days I have felt like I'm in bondage.

Let's take nearly 21 years and multiply them by 365,

I'm not a mathematician but I know that the number is really high.

Speaking of not being a mathematician, there are so many things that I'm not.

But people see them, not me and not my heart.

I'm not just a student.  I'm not my job.  I'm not my family.

I'm not something I love, something I hate, or anything I'm indifferent about week after week.

I'm not my friends.  I'm not my enemies.

I'm not the superficially beautiful and painfully untalented actors on MTV.

I AM SIMPLY... me.

And now that I know how I am I can become a part of something that is bigger than me.

Now that I know who I am I can really laugh, I can really love, I can really dance, and I can really cry.

I'm so sick of so many nostalgic memories from my childhood.

I'm ready to contemplate, embrace, and begin my journey of manhood.

I'd be lying to myself if I said that it will be easy - this journey of mine.

But it's okay, steady on.  I'll walk this bumpy road one day at a time.