Okay, this is a hefty poem, haha! I was asked to write this around 2011-ish for a church I was attending. Their theme that Sunday was the Oaks of Righteousness from Isaiah 61:3. Their request was for me to write a 5 minute spoken-word poem that was timed to a time-lapse video of a seed growing into a flower, whew! That’s why you might see what looks like random spacing- those were mile-markers for my timing with the video, and also the growing process of a seed.

It was an awesome experience, and I wish I could record this for you to hear instead of read! At the same time, I love that readers can interpret lines differently than how I would perform them. Take the time to read Isaiah 61:3 before reading this poem, and think of those that followed Jesus closely; if we can relate his influence to that of a growing oak tree, maybe it would look something like this…

I crave to be like the Oaks of Righteousness.
Do you remember hearing about them?
They stood behind a savior, more than followers 
but rooted in His discipleship
learning from his pursuant love
and plunging down into a consistency 
this world’s orbit around the sun couldn’t fathom.
Never drawn off course
or weakened
or cracked
or frayed
or like the snapping of twigs,
broken.
His love prevailed through this world’s stomach-punching curve ball,
I crave my downfall 
and His foundational life-supporting rise.

For the roots of my thirsty soul 
to extend down and drink up the strength
the power
the patient-protecting
love-binding
existence-explaining 
awesome raw comfort of Christ the Counselor,
and slurp it up.
Fusing it with my core
memorizing the consistency of saving grace and just
marinate.
Marinating, sautéing, listening
letting twisting, winding, strong and
independent roots 
take hold of the one thing 
that doesn’t know how to crumble.
and then I’ll choose to GROW.

Passionate pursuing protecting beauty 
beats my heart drum into long-awaited submission.
I let go,
and I grow.
Like the 10 year old boy in line for the Spiderman ride crossing fingers he’s tall enough
like the flowers bursting up and out at the tickling of the sun
like the first stretch of the morning
like nicks in doorframes
little girls in high heels
and like the day I realized there was more to the bible than 
Sunday school answers and broken people
I opened up to
let go
and I was set free to look up,
stretch
search
expand
breathing deep and growing up from my rooted salvation-saving hold,
it’s bursting out of me.

The sap of words from what I learn courses through me
strengthening my eyesight that distills 
the blurry image of who Christ is.
I grow. 
I twist and turn as I take all of life’s punches
and make its sin angry at the way I learn from it;
spinning
extending 
and reaching out my branches
I become my own uniqueness
from how I use the brokenness around me for beauty.

It’s a transformation.
It’s redemption.
It’s a foundation built up from rooted trust.
The first rain drop on a silky-still puddle
the first vibration of a guitar’s string
the first confession
the first acceptance
the first step forward 
when I evolve more into an understander of grace 
and forgiver of myself.

My roots reaching down
core vibrating with biblical truths
supporting the growth outwards,
branches extending around and strengthening
and all of a sudden a terribly persistent pursuing beauty reveals itself-
it whispers to the branches,
and they BLOOM.

They bloom wide open and smile 
as they flirt with the sun’s fingertips.
I can see it
and I can feel it 
and I can sense the closeness.
It’s a silky soft living vibration in my ear
a tickle on the face of my lips
tears swelling up from behind my eyelids
a rock concert of heart beats.
I am the victim that was found
I am sinking in hope
breathing in grace
and residing with my faithful Counselor.

Like an eagles first flight
grass tickling your feet
or a sunset enticing hues to recite their poetry
it’s an intoxicating freedom.
a wondrous whirlwind of a mind-blowing excited embrace
of His pursuit. 
I am pursued.
I am in bloom
displaying the radiance flowing within me 
marinating in his presence and love
craving to be like the Oaks of Righteous.
Do you remember hearing about them?
We are standing behind a savior
more than just fans
but Oaks of Righteousness.
It’s time to bloom, Church.
Bloom, for your Creator.