When You're Looking Everywhere but Up

Pictured: Calen, ½ of the White In Revery team. See their extraordinary work here.

The compass of my hunger,
It's needle always deceives.
May i wander no longer.
May this magnet pull retreat.

South is a thief,
Of my belief. 

I journey into my own caverns,
Seeking sunrises but finding sunsets.
A cul de sac of sin - twists & turns,
A treasure map without a red X. 

Because a gaze pointed down is none at all,
Because hope doesn't fall - it rises,
Because hope doesn't shrink - it grows tall,
Always in flight to unreachable heights. 

West is apathy,
Ignoring Calvary. 

I cannot look left without turning my cheek,
Meagerly offering a listening ear.
Just hearing won't help the waiting least-of-these,
Keeping the keys in my hand doesn't make them freer. 

Because gaze pointed away is none at all,
Because hope doesn't delay - it propels,
Because hope isn't quiet - it's a trumpet call,
Ushering in the rebel hearts of us all. 

East is comparison,
Turns friend into foe. 

Checklists & venn diagrams of incomparables,
Forsaking the miracle of divine design,
Lusting after that which is unsharable,
Paralyzing our gifts until they resign. 

Because a gaze pointed right is none at all,
Because hope doesn't divide - it multiplies,
Because hope isn't a ticket event but a free-for-all,
A wool blanket of truth to warm our beds of lies. 

North is sanctuary,
For you, us, & we. 

These eyes have found their home alas,
They don't burn weary—but instead burn glory,
They see You & so they see the masses,
The soon-additions to your redemption story. 

Because a gaze saluting upward is the only one at all,
Because hope isn't ashes—it's an all consuming fire,
Because hope is the entrance to the Kingdom Hall,
Full of holy dancers who never tire. 

May southbound, westbound, eastbound,
Be forever bound. 
Till our hearts travel northbound,
Till your sheep are found,
Till Zion resounds.

Steer me in your kingdom ways,
Headed Home for all of my days.