June 2023
Author's Note: Father, brother, nurse, sinner, food addict... I am all of these. I know so many people who have been affected in some way by the complexities of addiction, regardless of the substance or behavior. There is often a sense of helplessness when watching addictive behaviors in someone you care about, and for me, only one sure way to confront that feeling, as addressed in this month's poem.
on fasting
with lines from Isaiah 58 i read again in isaiah that the fast chosen by heaven is not one of self-affliction of bowing down, sackcloth and ashes of mourning rather a day to untie the bands of wickedness undo heavy burdens free the oppressed break every yoke and i try to match those mandates to my heart's desire foregoing food and drink as an offering to God a small and simple sacrifice yearning for a son to turn from wickedness and unbelief searching for a way to cut the cords that bind him to his anger, his guilt breathe a prayer aloud for my brother's burden of pain to be undone by one trained to carefully cut and cautiously sew to free him from the oppression of a body worn and weary whisper a sincere supplication for my struggling child to find the strength to break the yoke of addiction of self-destruction this is the fast i have chosen looking for the certain fulfillment of this promise— "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am."
©2023 j.lewis
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