Faithfully (A Most Surprising Way)

            Busy were the days, over and over, and still a fire rose in me to forge some way for my family and I through writing. I'd look over the new writing prompts for poems that promised payment and I'd pray, pray for what to write, AND HOW; then it would come to me.  

            This was surprising though, VERY surprising, both the idea of HOW AND WHAT to write. Write a poem after picking a random card from a deck of cards. "Where would our deck of cards be?", I'd ask, then begin to panic a bit (for another way to earn income while being able to write and hone my skills simultaneously would be lost to me) and I needed to find a random card to pick quickly, and then Jesus would give one of the biggest "hacks" : pull up "random" playing cards online. Technically it was still "random", and as long as I searched the results well and didn't pick the same card it could work; so, I did. Each day was the equivalent of climbing a mountain (for the days left me drained in many ways), still I'd climb that "mountain", and every time some inspiration came, along with a new "random" card as I looked. 

              How Jesus provided as I took bold steps of faith to seek inspiration AND seek income through that potential win are not lost on me; and as I considered this, I decided to post this massive God-given "hack" of sorts, the poems I was given the ability to write (in numbered order below) and some sort of encouragement to someone. Pray, be willing to step out in faith, and follow as Jesus leads you (something I'm learnING more and more). I obviously didn't get these published (and therefore payment), but I learned tenacious faith that would grow, so that's still a "win". 

Note About The Poems: they should tell within each which one is which card (number and suit. example: 5 of spades).

(1.)

Seven 

 

Seven diamonds,

held up high,

reminding me of seven tries.

 

Seven times I wrote seven ways,

over several days,

as diamonds appeared to me again,

reflecting on the meaning,

completing seven ways,

of seven times,

the very essence of seven,

and the "diamonds" this brings.

 

(2.)

Maybe

 

Speaking clearly,

maybe,

calling it what it is.

 

The spade made way,

a second time today,

so I glance at the two,

grateful for another way through,

this time in a spade,

made clearly.....

maybe.

 

(3.)

I'd See Diamonds

 

I'd see red,

I'd see a door opened,

I'd see diamonds.

 

I'd see panic subside,

a door usher invitation,

something awe inspiring;

I'd see diamonds.

 

The significance not lost on me,

not completely,

completion speaks through seven,

the number converses in red,

and with it diamonds,

a complete answer with precious worth shown me.

 

I'd see diamonds,

and tell of such God-given grace,

a favor to write something again surprising and good again.

(4.)

I Sit 

 

I sit somewhere,

after a long day,

looking at a stone face;

and the stone face looks off.

 

It's been busy,

it's been rough,

and I wonder if this royal one knows something,

something I don't.

 

I sit and think,

grateful for what was,

was done; 

still I long to rest.

 

I want to look off also,

see what this queen sees,

and answer the question I have,

"Is this why she's stone faced?".

 

I sit and think,

hoping I can look off somewhere,

look off and smile,

rather than remain stoic,

considering if this is why she carries her spade.

(5.)

I See The Heart

 

I see the heart, 

speaking plain, 

I see the eight, 

reminding me of creativity, 

of perseverance, 

of abundance. 

 

I see the love of this God-given blessing,

looking upon the hearts before me, 

red hearts with much to say;

so I listen as they say. 

 

I see the hearts, 

the ones that emerged from hiding, 

pondering their meaning, 

even with words I'm seeking, 

speaking, 

as I write. 

 

I see the infinite,

a loop twice doubled in its eight, 

and I am grateful; 

for one more step toward a path of words,

a path change,

and with it grace and abundance not lost on me.

 

(6.)

I Was Clubbed

 

I was clubbed by a four,

a number and a day.

 

I was hard-pressed,

both in work and life demands.

 

I was nearly knocked out,

taken down.....

and then it happened;

relief in doors opened,

both in writing and a way made,

one through busy work days.

 

I was clubbed by a four,

in number and a Thursday,

the fourth day.

 

(7.)

I Play This Hand 

 

I play this hand, 

the one called life, 

I look to see how each card can be played flawlessly,

ones called effort.

 

I play this deck,

one called a day,

looking again with spade in hand,

asking how I can call it better,

better than what it is. 

 

I shuffle these cards, 

these seemingly random symbols and numbers,

ones of events and challenges,

pull the "tenth one" and find amusement; 

for it was called as it was:

the spade of black showing me I can, 

can overcome,

no matter what card I would get in life.

 

(8.)

A Third Time

 

A third time and I'd count myself blessed,

looking at the three that reminded me.

 

A third time and I'd reflect,

looking upon the diamonds staring me in the face,

ones of different sizes,

though all of equal worth.

 

Once more I am encouraged,

looking upon another chance to write something,

to make a new way for my family and I in this writing,

a third time.

 

(9.)

A Queen Gives 

 

A queen gives me diamonds,

gives grace upon her face....

something welcome in this space.

 

Royalty ushers royally,

and I am a willing recipient,

better for the exchange.

 

A queen smiles softly,

offers this surprising generosity,

more than just the tangible,

this kindhearted expression,

one I welcome wholeheartedly.

Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!