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In this time of confinement
We are forced to be released of our normal routines of escape
Our addictions, our anxieties appeased
Those outlets we regularly used
To escape our troubles and our fears
Those crutches we thought we needed forever
Have been broken
We left home to relieve our stresses
Turmoil and pain
Of jobs and marriage troubles
Of loneliness and self doubt
We grew so entrenched in our behaviors
Like a well worn path
We walked it daily, weekly, monthly
In casinos, bar rooms
Gyms, theaters and stadiums
Filled with vices and camaraderie
To escape the truth about who we are
This is a wake up call
And it will not be released until
We have discovered the truth
About what really matters
About our part in our own pain
Why should we point the finger
And hold onto prejudices, pride and pain
The anger expressed by
The need to control everything
And everyone around us
To keep the illusion alive
The place in our minds that helps us to feel safe
To sleep at night
To function in the day
So what is the truth
The truth is we are so lost and must be found
We’ve been stripped of our rights
But now we can see clearer
That we have never been free
As long as we hold on to hate
Unforgiveness, lust and pride
Do we believe in God
Or do we believe in routine
Have our hearts been seared
With so much judgement. resentment
Anger and fear
Expressed in gossip, jealousy
And crimes against humanity
I wonder what these 7 deadly things mean
To those burned out on the church
Who have lost their faith in humanity
We think we have protected ourselves
By hanging on to our own philosophies
Religion and politics have torn us apart
Here are the tenants of self destruction
Not to mention destruction of families and friends
Each one has more than the literal meaning
But here they are plainly stated
Envy is the desire for others’ traits, status, abilities, or situation.
Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.
Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.
Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.
Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.
Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.
So where is the map to lead us out
Written so long ago
Still stands the test of time
The 10 Commandments
1. You shall have no other Gods before me.
2. Don’t make an idol.
3. Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5. Honor your parents.
6. Don’t murder.
7. Don’t commit adultery.
8. Don’t steal.
9. Don’t lie.
10. Don’t covet.
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Must stop and pause
Just one moment to think
These are more then just words
Lets break this down extemporaneously
You shall have no other Gods before me
I have always believed myself that there is a God
Like many I became disillusioned
By church, hypocrites and humanity
But to find him I do so in nature
Every day I can, I rise to greet the awakening sun
When it rises so does hope inside my heart
You never know what a day will bring
Disappointments and troubles
I am humbled by the Almighty Creator
I find in the rising and setting sun
In everyday moments
In finding love and forgiveness
But we live in a fast paced world
It’s spun out of control
Routines are set
We are all control freaks
Trying to eek out another day
Getting our needs met
So intense is our stress
That we have abandoned God
It has become acceptable
To not believe
So we put ourselves first
At the very least
We neglect our Creator in favor
Of satisfying our own immediate needs
Therefore we have lost our peace
Which comes from one place only
It is the blanket that warms those
Who are in the presence of God
Don’t make an idol
What does it mean to worship
“The feeling or expression of reverence
And adoration for a deity”
We are created with a need to do this
It’s what drives us to feel love
Without which we are empty
A deity is a supernatural being
Considered divine or sacred
If we were in fact created by God
Then wouldn’t that make him
Our father
And wouldn’t he want to
Spend time with his family
I know how painful it is
For me to miss my family
It actually eats away at me
Strips me of my happiness
When one of my kids or grand kids
Calls me or I visit them
I am filled with joy
A peace I cannot express
Without which I am empty
I can get jealous of the times
They spend without me
When I have not seen them for a while
I feel the pain of rejection
Even though it is not their intent
How must God feel
If in fact we have ignored him
Gone about our lives
Not included him in it
I do not miss church
Honestly humanity got in my way
Of seeing God
But my heart still craves him
This is why I rush to nature to find him
What if everything has stopped
As it mostly has
And we are given this opportunity
To stop, spend time with him
What if we turn off our TV’s computers and phones
And sit in silence and listen to
The the sound of our own hearts
STOP
WATCH
LISTEN
Remove the distractions
Look deeply into our hearts
And find the truth
About ourselves
No more he said she said
No more pointing fingers
Lay your heart bear
And take one piece at a time
Sift it through with God
Like anything we value
When it gets dirty
Clean it
Since we cannot do this alone
We must do it with God
Feel him reveal to us our truth
Ask for forgiveness
And ask him to take it away
Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain
To use a name, such as God, without proper respect
Abuse, misuse, pervert
I hate name calling
How many times I have been frustrated
And spouted Jesus Christ
Or God Dammit
And aren’t we made in the image of God
If you believe
And wouldn’t that make it just as bad
To name call each other
Venom spews out of mouths unclean
That stem from hearts impure
Polluted by anger
Rightfully so
Humans have become so self serving
Putting themselves first
Kill or be killed mentality
That vile words are flowing
But you cannot have both
Clean and dirty water
We have become brackish
Like cancer cells
The negative has spread
And made our hearts bitter
We need a cleansing
Especially now when there truly are
People who have hurt us
Accountability will bring healing
But how will we handle the frustration
If we never get justice
There usually is not real justice
It’s just an ugly truth
How will we learn to accept this
We must practice patience
In this time
Of our confinement
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy
This is so much more than a day
It is a rest
It is a time to slow down
So we won’t forget or neglect
The One who made us
The ones we love
The hugs and kisses
The smiles and play
Let the children show us
They act out when they are ignored
They try to get attention
When they feel scared of confused
They want to see our eyes watching them
So they know they are here
Mommy, Daddy, look what I made
Creators just like God
Playdough and paint
Creations to be celebrated
But we forget
There is no time
So much to do
Work, work, work
Take something to numb the nerves
Get caught up in the drama
Your eyes will glaze over
When the finger painting
Done with so much care
Is presented and not celebrated
The soul looks for ways
To be seen and known
I am here
Does anyone see me
And God is no child but
He is here
Do we see him
Are we too busy
Honor your parents
Great respect, High esteem
It cannot be just in your thoughts
But actions must ensue
Not all parents are worthy of this honor
Because they have done terrible things
Some have turned their children away
And their are so many
Who treat their children as possessions
This grieves the heart of God
But most do the best they can
In a world run a muck
They gave up so much to raise them
Wanting to build a family
Imperfect at best
But with hearts of gold
Only to be disrespected and ignored
Take the time
To find those things you can be grateful for
And celebrate them
Tell them you love them
Spend time with them
Remember they love you
And need you all the more
In a world so uncertain
Don’t hold their sins against them
Or yours will be held against you
Think on the positive
And it will grow
Point out the negative
And love dies
Don’t murder
An act of causing death, especially deliberately
Killing literally
Assassinating characters
Hate is the same thing
Prejudice
Gossip to ruin another
My heart squeezes now as I remember
The times I have been killed
Lost people in my life
By words that were untrue
How can one ever recover
There will always be scars
Always living with a handicap
When someone has killed your soul
But thank God for resurrection
Those opportunities to become
More compassionate, less naive
To what others experience as well
In prison camps
Removed from society
Chastised for nothing more
Than being born a certain nationality
Don’t commit adultery
To take anothers’ lover
A promise broken
Not dissolved by choice
Understanding of a need to separate
Sometimes because we are human
We cannot make things work
Doing more harm than good
To remain in a prison of our own making
But to stay and stray
Is selfish and shows the deficit
Somethings missing
We have lost our way
Not agreed on what love means
Breaking vows, breaks families
Sad but true
If you must part ways
Do it with love in mind
But don’t stay and play
Don’t steal
Taking what belongs to another
With no intention of giving it back
How far have we fallen
Character and integrity
Laziness
Desperation
Addiction
Makes you stop and think
What is really important
Don’t lie
Something that is not true
This destroys like no other
As it breaks down trust
Ruins lives
Excuses for obligations unmet
Crying wolf
A disgusting trait
Don’t covet
Yearning to possess or have
When it is not a mutual intention
A feeling of discontented or resentful
Longing aroused by someone else’s possessions
Qualities, or luck
Each of us was born with qualities
That when we discover them
We should develop them
When we do, we become authentic
And when we are authentically
True to ourselves
We are satisfied
And can truly only be enhanced
And appreciative of others qualities
The true reason people covet
Or are jealous
Is because they do not believe
They have something special
To offer the world
To make their mark
Each of us are given different allotments
Of qualities, talents and more
What we do with them
Will determine
If we reach our full potential
Can we do what we were born to do
Covetousness and jealousy
Robs the one who carries it
In their hearts and poisoned minds
Tis a sickness that inflicts
Reaches out with murderous intent
To kill the one through words and deeds
Who possesses what they do not
And yet want consumes them
Blinds their hearts and minds
Run as fast as you can
To the place where this sickness can be cured
Before you destroy yourself
And others
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This world has gone so far away
From the Garden of Eden
Even if it were a metaphor
Even if it was a real place
Imagine a world
Where harmony exists
And love is real and selfless
Where hearts lined up
With the true meaning of love
So lets bring our brokenness
Fears and sins
Lets strip them from our hearts and minds
Let this time of confinement refine us
Maybe God is saying
Come together
Right Now
Over Me
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The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.