In the Middle of the Clay
In 1985, I am not where I would like to be. Back to the Future comes out this year, and I put science-fictional hope in a DeLorean. The St. Louis Cardinals face the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. I become a fast fan, even if Kansas City wins. The point is, in the middle of this Missouri clay, I find my play.
A blank book rests on my lap and a pen moves along the groove of my writer’s callous. My other hand counts out a syllabic meter to accompany a rhyme out of my own form of reason. Writing free verse between story-problem equations provides the unknown I have been trying to solve for fourteen years. The words click together, and I flip the page. Precision and pseudo-perfection will appear later. This is a mere draft of something yet to be. I discover my passion. I know my purpose. This is my play.
1986 is a good year. Especially for prophetic poetry.
Because in 1987, I am back where I thought I would never be again. I am a Twins fans again. Yet, this is a sequel. Nothing is quite the same as when or where I left it. As if there is a disruption in the space-time-continuum. The point is, in the middle of that Missouri clay, I did find my play.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
In 2015, we are not where I would like us to be. Back to the Future celebrates its travel thirty years into the future, and the Kansas City Royals win the World Series again. There must be a disruption in space-time-continuum. Nothing is quite the same as when or where I leave it. The point is, no longer in the middle of Missouri’s clay, I still find my play.
After all, I am not hoping in a science-fictional DeLorean to correct the future’s problems and solve the past's unknowns. The point is, in the middle of any misery’s clay, He shows me my play.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
2016 is going to be a good year. Maybe even for prophetic poetry.
Because in 2017, we could be back where we thought we would never be again.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:6-9, 16-18 NIV