Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

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I Am His Poem

August 25, 2011 By Sandra Heska King

So look in the mirror and pray for the grace
To tear off the mask, see the art of your face.
~Michael Card in The Poem of Your Life

When I wake up this morning, my bedroom is still pink.

It’s been pink now for nine years plus.

Every square inch of this house needs to be repainted.

When I brush my teeth, I notice the wallpaper is still only partly removed.

Same thing in the kitchen.

I’m appalled by the silken net above the sink, crumbs on the table, last night’s plates of dried spaghetti, counter stains, refrigerator door handle roughness, and appliance dust.

My feet stick to the floor.

Toys tumble across the living room carpet.

The table (I saw the top just a few days ago) threatens to topple under books and bills and stuff.

I’m a mess.

Everything around me is a mess.

Again.

And it’s choking my creativity, my imagination, my writing, my poetry, my art.

My passions.

And so today I’m going to focus on the mess.

Because I’m mired in this mess.

But while I do that, I’m going to meditate on this verse that Bonnie startled me with.

I think I already knew it, but it hit me today like those things do sometimes.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
~Ephesisans 2:10 (NLT)

I am His poiema.

(That’s Greek for masterpiece.)

His poem.

A verse of a larger poem.

His song.

A note of His song.

And I sing His song, recite His poem with my life.

Every day.

Even the messy parts.

(Well, I might have written some of those verses myself.)

And while I work on the messy parts today, I’m going to sing and dance to this song by Michael Card. From his album, Poiema.

Sing and dance with me?


This week’s Faith Barista Jam topic is: What is a passion or interest you’d like to nurture and grow?

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Comments

  1. Beth says

    August 25, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    I love Michael Card’s music! Thanks for sharing the song and for sharing your heart. Who cares if you’re a mess every now and then? Aren’t we all! And I’m so glad your meditating on what’s most important! … And so will I!

    • Sandra says

      August 25, 2011 at 9:29 pm

      Hi, Beth. It’s nice to know we’re all in this mess together. 🙂 I guess if we didn’t experience it sometimes we wouldn’t appreciate the order.

  2. Kelli Wommack says

    August 25, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    Love this. So relate to the mess. And the verse in Ephesians…I always say God made you and me a “work of art,” not a “piece of work!”

    • Sandra says

      August 25, 2011 at 9:30 pm

      Oh, I love that, Kelli! A work of art, not a piece of work. Writing that down. 😉

  3. Nikole Hahn says

    August 25, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    I’m glad I’m not the only one who has a house in need of repair and repaint. Sigh.

    • Sandra says

      August 25, 2011 at 9:31 pm

      This is an old farmhouse. So hard to keep it together. By the time I finish one thing, something else needs to be repeated. Sighing with you.

  4. Mumsy says

    August 25, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    WOW! What a powerful post! Like you, my house is in need of some repair/upkeep. So glad I found you blog on Authentic Blogger!

    • Sandra says

      August 25, 2011 at 9:33 pm

      Welcome, Mumsy! Thank you for coming by. It seems like a neverending battle sometimes, doesn’t it?

  5. S. Etole says

    August 25, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    There’s a bundle of good truth in that verse! Always enjoy your words and photos.

    • Sandra says

      August 25, 2011 at 9:34 pm

      I always smile when I see you, Susan. 🙂

  6. Lindsey van Niekerk says

    August 25, 2011 at 7:31 pm

    This is so great!

    I once asked a friend how we as people, even when messy and disordered, know that things need to be “in order” and he replied, “Because God is a God of order, and since we are created in His image, our deepest desire is to find that order.

    I think that is why we often create best in an environment of order, but what is cool is how God creates through us IN SPITE of our mess, reminding how it is really all about Him and the beauty that He shines through is!

    Thanks for provoking such desires and thoughts in my heart & mind through your post!

    Lovely!

    • Sandra says

      August 25, 2011 at 9:38 pm

      Oh, Lindsey. You (he) said that so beautifully. That we create best in an environment of order because He is a God of order–and since we are created in His image, we crave that sense of order in order to be creative. I’m hanging on to that. But yes, it’s amazing that He creates through the messes. And nice that sometimes the messes provoke creativity–gives us something to write about. 😉

  7. Katie says

    August 25, 2011 at 7:57 pm

    I am so grateful that in my mess, I am still his art! Thank you.

    • Sandra says

      August 25, 2011 at 9:42 pm

      Absolutely! And that He can use our messes to create beauty. I love that part of Michael’s lyrics were he says “tear off the mask, see the art of your face.” Sometimes I wonder if we hide behind our messes.

      • roshi says

        September 21, 2011 at 3:26 am

        Dear Sandra,
        thank you for sharing your thoughts… love that line too… think life in the world sense makes us develop masks and it takes alot of courage to learn and practice being open, vulnerable and authentic… and sometimes you do get hurt very vey deeply … but you keep on keeping on.. believing in yourself because you know that you are God’s creation… and that alone makes you a masterpiece.. its just that you are a work in progress and then you learn to be patient and kind to yourself… after all you are BELOVED 🙂
        my heart needed to read what your post says hear… thank you…

  8. Linda says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    Oh, I’m in the middle of a mess too Sandy – getting packed up to move. I encourage myself by thinking that I often have to make a mess before I can get things straightened up!!
    I love the thought that we are His masterpiece. I confess I have never quite felt that way, but thankfully I’m a work in progress!

    • Sandra says

      August 25, 2011 at 9:44 pm

      I swore with the last move, my family would have to bury me under the porch. That I was not going anywhere again. But there are days I might give in. There’s something about moving that gives us an opportunity to start brand new. And yes, that thing about making bigger messes in order to clean up a mess. I can relate to that. He’s not done with us yet, Linda.

  9. Kristin says

    August 26, 2011 at 12:44 pm

    Just found you throught Authentic Blogger. . .love it here!
    So nice to “meet” you.
    I just became your newest follower.
    Blessings,
    Kristin

    • Sandra says

      August 27, 2011 at 3:04 pm

      Oh, I love having you here, Kristin! Welcome, and thank you. 🙂

  10. Carol says

    August 26, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    The image of being a verse in God’s poem is beautiful.
    It is good to remember that during the messy times. Thank-you for sharing Michael Card’s song!

    • Sandra says

      August 27, 2011 at 3:07 pm

      Isn’t that a great song? And oh the things that God can do with messes . . .

  11. Anne Lang Bundy says

    August 27, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    What a beautiful and profound post! Thank you for sharing this, Snady.

    See you soon! 😀

    • Sandra says

      August 27, 2011 at 3:07 pm

      Can’t wait! 😀 😀

  12. Anne Lang Bundy says

    August 27, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    (PS ~ You KNOW with five kids in the house that I REALLY got the beginning! You KNOW I love the Lord enough to REALLY get the ending.)

    • Sandra says

      August 27, 2011 at 3:13 pm

      Ahhh. I’m a big enough messmaker myself, but then add the grandgirls. I can’t imagine five.

  13. Duane Scott says

    August 27, 2011 at 11:33 pm

    Wow! I just LOVE this! 🙂

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I’m Sandra, a camera-toting, recovering doer who’s learning to be. still. Read more…

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Time out for a little #berniememes fun. Time out for a little #berniememes fun.
“We don’t know when he will act. In his time, “We don’t know when he will act. In his time, no doubt, not ours.” ~ Peter in Prince Caspian
🌱
It’s Inauguration Morning. Prayers for the incoming and the outgoing. Prayers for all of us because we are all exhausted. Prayers for peace and patience and safety and wisdom and more compassion and more kindness and more love and unity. And, please Lord, no more virus.
“Courage, dear heart.” 🌱 “. . . I am the “Courage, dear heart.”
🌱
“. . . I am the great Bridge Builder”
~ Aslan in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
🌱
A plea... can we stop with the caustic criticism and the tearing down and the canceling and the division and focus on listening and compassionate conversation and love and generosity and unity? Can we take courage, dear hearts, and become bridge builders?
“To know what *would* have happened, child?” s “To know what *would* have happened, child?” said Aslan. “No. Nobody is ever told that.”
🌱
“Oh dear,” said Lucy.
🌱
“But anyone can find out what *will* happen,” said Aslan.
. . . 
“Go and wake the others and tell them to follow. If they will not, then you at least must follow me alone.”
🌱
~ from Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. ~ Psalm 133:1
🌱
I expect that goes for sisters, too.
One of my favorite poems in friend @jody_lee_colli One of my favorite poems in friend @jody_lee_collins new book is the last one, "What My Grandkids Will Say About Me on Oprah." I sent it to my daughter @aeking8511 and asked what she (or her kids) would say about me. She sent this back to me and clarified that it was a quick flow without proofing. It made me laugh and also made me teary. I did *not* ask permission to share it. But I just had to.

“I don't know that I've ever watched Oprah, but I would say:

“When my kids talk to Oprah about their Nama, they will express her love for books, taking trips, and taking pictures of frozen iguanas.

“Our Nama would send us books all the time. She knew we needed to get off the electronics and get lost in our imaginations like she did. But the truth is, the books we received weren't even 1% of the books that Amazon sent to her house.

“She loved to take pictures, causing our car ride from point A to point B to randomly stop in the middle of the road. Papa learned very quickly to hit the brakes and pull over because maybe--just maybe--there might be a bird sitting on a fence near a weathered barn.

“Her love for trips was inspiring, because unlike our Mom's trips of margaritas and sunshine, our Nama's trips were to Haiti and places where she could love like Jesus loved. And write with other writers, to dig deep and write--wait, besides poems, what did she write again? Anyway, she met a lot of friends through writing and going to places like Haiti. Even if they had to be escorted by big men and guns to the orphanage in Haiti, or possibly die in a hurricane, she didn't care. She took those children back in her heart and never let them go. And if she didn't already have us, she may have physically brought them home.

“Our Nama was special. She made the best lasagna and goulash, and her scent emanates through her favorite perfume--Amazing Grace. She even bought us some so we can smell her any time we want.

“P.S. If you ever see a frozen iguana, stand still and take a picture.”
🌱

https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Pilgrimage-Jody-L-Collins/dp/1736277413
Pondering words before speaking them. Pondering words before speaking them.
There was good in 2020. But most of it was awful. There was good in 2020. But most of it was awful. Awful. Awful. Awful. Yesterday was horrific. My prayer is that our leaders—that all of us—after sitting a short season in the ashes—can rise above the rubble, refined by the fire. That we can find more love, more compassion, more kindness. That all of us can work together to solve problems. That we can agree to disagree. That we can speak words that heal and not destroy. May 2021 be a year of new beginnings.
Reflecting on the past. Dreaming of the future. W Reflecting on the past. Dreaming of the future. 
What are you doing today?
D: Wow! Your foot is really black and blue. Me: I D: Wow! Your foot is really black and blue.

Me: It's yellow.

D: It's colorful. It's pretty. It looks almost like the northern lights.

Official diagnosis from my PT order: "Lateral malleolus avulsion fracture." That's a bright side. It could be worse. But apparently I still won't be running any marathons any time soon. He ordered PT 3x a week for 6 weeks. We will see about that. 

I will spare you a picture of my northern lights. But here’s some purple ones from a neighborhood walk when I *didn’t* fall. And how about this one of Kolbie and Brooks instead? This lights up my life. (Sorry @ryeruffking - I just had to steal-share it.) 

Also, I could be sitting up north cuddling Brooks, playing Legos with big brother Dax, and getting my makeup/hair/nails done by Kolbie. All in due time. Hopefully, before Brooks starts walking and Kolbie starts kindergarten.
In Memoriam A. H. H. OBIT MDCCCXXXIII: 106 BY ALFR In Memoriam A. H. H. OBIT MDCCCXXXIII: 106
BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON
🔔
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
 The flying cloud, the frosty light:
 The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
 Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
 The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
  For those that here we see no more;
 Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
 And ancient forms of party strife;
 Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
 The faithless coldness of the times;
 Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
 The civic slander and the spite;
 Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
 Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
 Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
 The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
 Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
🔔
I hope your new year is filled with more sunshine than clouds, more joy than sadness, more laughter than tears.
#2020bestnine #bestnine2020 #topnine2020 #2020bestnine #bestnine2020 #topnine2020
Taken on December 19–technically still fall. Yes Taken on December 19–technically still fall. Yes, Virginia. There is fall in South Florida.
🍂
Speaking of fall. I took one Saturday night while out for a walk. We hadn’t been home for even an hour after celebrating Christmas with our son and family, including our new grand boy.
🍂
I fractured my ankle, so I’m guessing it will be a while before we are back in the Loxahatchee, and I will have to post old photos. 
🍂
The deal gives a whole new meaning to this ornament I ordered. It arrived while we were gone, and the neighbor brought it over with our mail on Sunday. I’m guessing there will still be places in 2021 where I won’t be going. But I’m hoping for lots of good things for all of us in the new year. 
🍂
Last night they flew east to west. This morning we Last night they flew east to west. This morning west to east. Where do they go? What are they? Starlings???
Every evening. Thousands of them. Heading to roost Every evening. Thousands of them. Heading to roost in the “swamp,” I guess.
I think I’ve posted this every year since I wrot I think I’ve posted this every year since I wrote it...

Seed of Yahweh

I’ve been thinking about this seed of Yahweh
conceived in love, then planted in the cave of a woman-child,
confined and nurtured in her soft dark womb,
nourished with her every heartbeat.
.
How cells of cell multiplied until he fluttered light,
then stretched and rose like yeast bread in her warm belly
until her body could no longer contain him.
.
How the walls closed in, contracted, kneaded,
and she expelled him down that painful passage toward the light.
How with a gush of blood and water he slid wet into the night
and was laid in a cold stone trough.
.
Whose hands touched him first, this son of man?
His earthly father’s?
Some midwife's?
Did his parents count his perfect fingers–
the fingers of God himself?
.
I think about those tiny hands that fisted around their fingers,
that held their hands as he grew,
about those hands that planted seeds in soil,
shaped wood, chiseled stone,
hands that touched and healed and held a scroll,
fingers that wrote in dirt.
.
How one day he, light of lights,
staggered down another narrow, painful passage,
toward the darkness, pummeled and beaten by hands of others as his own slivered palms quivered
with the weight of a heavy cross.
.
How he was stretched wide, this bread of life.
How this one whose hands pounded nails to build
accepted pounded nails meant to break Creator by created,
and how his mother’s heart exploded
with the pain of it and for the love of him.
.
I think of how his own limp body could not hold him,
how with a gush of blood and water he slipped his earthly life,
and how his mother may have caressed
and kissed those blood-stained hands.
.
I think about this seed of Yahweh,
this son of man, planted in a cave of earth,
confined to cold, dark stone
until the tomb could not contain him,
how he stretched and rose, this bread of life,
and how he comes to us still and plants himself in our hearts,
becomes our heartbeat for the love of us.
So our hearts explode with the pain of it and for the love of him.
.
And we cannot contain him.
.
~SHK, 2011
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother si “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him. The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”~ Luke 17:3-4
🌱
“They thought this command for forgiveness was a demand for more faith, when all along it is actually an invitation to obedience . . . Forgiveness will be their [disciples] new yoke.”
~ Michael Card in Luke: The Gospel of Amazement
🌱
I guess that becomes our yoke, our work, too.
“No servant can serve two masters, for either he “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” ~ Luke 16:13
🌱
“But the second half of verse 13 reveals that Jesus has been speaking metaphorically. *We* are the slaves who must decide if our devotion will be solely placed in God or in worldly things. In the end, it is a matter of which value system you accept. Things are of minimal importance. People matter more. Our devotion to God matters most.” ~ Michael Card in Luke: The Gospel of Amazement
“‘For this my son was dead, and is alive again “‘For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.” ~ Luke 15:24
🌱
“It is the kind of radical reversal Luke loves most. The hopeless son, who deserves slavery, is mercifully restored to full sonship, while the stunning revelation comes that it is the older son who has really been a slave all along—a slave to his hatred for the loving kindness of his generous and noble father.” ~ Michael Card in Luke: The Gospel of Amazement
🌱
It’s all so upside down.
“Salt is good, but if salt has lost his taste, h “Salt is good, but if salt has lost his taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” ~ Luke 14:34-35
🌱
“Jesus’ closing statement about salt seems abrupt. But it is perfectly in keeping with all that has gone before. The salt in Jesus’ area came from the Dead Sea and could contain impurities that would cause it to become rancid. This explains the notion of how salt could ‘lose its saltiness.’ It must remain pure to fulfill its purpose.” ~ Michael Card in Luke: The Gospel of Amazement
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