Promised

To last the winter requires
desire. Your ancestors knew this.
They sailed in wagons from Tennessee
to the New World (Texas),
settling there in a crevice of
mediocrity, their vision daily
whipped by an ever chilling wind.
They look on you now calm-eyed
from the fair banks of Canaan,
your own cloud-burst of witnesses.
They claim you. But they’re worried
about your core: you’re wobbly.
You’ve put too much stock in who’s
following rather than where you’re bound.
Your ancestors knew above all else
you must have a center.
The winter can be long.
 
 

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,327 other subscribers

6 Comments

  1. Christie on January 9, 2014 at 1:05 pm

    Yes, it can be.
    This is wonderful (and my own cloud-burst of Texas witnesses is nodding in agreement).

  2. Abbigail Kriebs (@jstnthrabbigail) on January 9, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    This is a stunningly beautiful reminder, John. Thank you.

  3. Melinda Viergever Inman on January 9, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    Thank you, John. I needed this today! I’m marketing my first novel, and it’s a constant temptation to keep my eyes on who is following rather than where I’m bound. My cloud of witnesses sailed from Tennessee to Oklahoma. They are watching me, cheering me on from the other side, urging me to keep my eyes on the Savior. I am comforted.

  4. harbacke on January 9, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    My witness cloud peers over the edge of heaven shaking their heads at how a Missouri girl got flash frozen into Canada. Grateful for the woolen blanket of these words.

  5. pastordt on January 11, 2014 at 6:58 pm

    I often wonder what my cloud thinks about me, my choices, my character. I usually get positive vibes. One grandmother gave me those in person, just before she died at 101. The other? Hmmm. Southern bred, prejudiced, but intelligent and funny. . . her I’m not so sure about.

  6. Shawn Smucker – “The Winter Can Be Long” on January 15, 2014 at 10:02 am

    […] rather than where you’re bound. Your ancestors knew above all else you must have a center. The winter can be long.   * * * * * I’ve come to love the doubters hard. God is getting bigger. No He doesn’t grow. […]

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply