Overwhelmed (A Retrospective Post)

This blog is definitely going to be about the here and now in addition to the future. However, I do have numerous creative works that I have already completed over the years, which I also want to share. So, some of my entries will be what you might define as an "archive". I'm very keen on this idea because it might ultimately help me bring organize my creations better (and this is a great thing for me who can sometimes be the scattered type).

This written work came to me while I was at my church's 2009 Women's Retreat. The theme was "Overwhelmed: Extreme Worship". On the last morning of the retreat, I had decided that I REALLY needed to decompress and pull myself away from the "social" aspect of the retreat long enough to spend some much needed time with God. I began by going up the "Worship Experience" venue, which had been lovingly created by a truly gifted (and totally amazing) friend of mine. She had created worship stations... each one set up to specifically encourage different ways to look at God and spend time in His presence. As I stepped through each station, I was able to completely block out everything else and direct myself towards the singular focus of communing, meditating, praising, and absorbing my Creator. I asked for Him to speak to me, and from my experience, I penned this poem:

Overwhelmed

I sit in still silence
while your waves pulse a rhythm against the shore

I sit in still silence
while your breeze brings music to the trees

I sit in still silence
while your creation fills my senses

Overwhelmed
I feel a warmth growing within my heart;
A presence so strong—I’m ready to burst
Overwhelmed

I feel as if I should speak,
but the words are trapped in my throat
Overwhelmed

I sit in still silence
while your sun beams breakthrough the darkness

Filled with overwhelming love

Filled with overwhelming acceptance

Filled with overwhelming peace

Your daughter and sister in Christ delivered and set free!

Coming from a society where we typically use the term "overwhelmed" when referring to something that is "more than what we can handle", I completely LOVE the notion of being OVERWHELMED (still using the definition of: more than what I can handle) with the omnipotent presence of God! Isn't it interesting that the same word (with the same meaning) applied to a different subject, focus, or context can become such a positive thing?! I certainly think so and praise God for blessing me with the opportunity to see and know it. "Oh, most Holy God, bringer of Light, Life, and Love, I praise your name! I truly am awed by your greatness and the beauty of your creations. Please let me use what you have given me to its fullest potential so that I may expand Your Kingdom and inspire others to follow you too. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."