Between writing my last poem and this one that I am about to share, I discovered something about myself. Something that I have felt for a long time but didn’t know that it was a real thing and therefore I would just get frustrated with myself for what I thought were just weaknesses and challenges for me. I discovered that I am a highly (or at least moderately high) sensitive person and that my nervous system can get overstimulated and overwhelmed more easily. In learning more about this trait, I realized that my greatest challenges, as well as my greatest gifts stem in large part from being highly sensitive.
In Sunday School today we were talking about taking upon ourselves Christ’s yoke and finding rest. We talked about how each yoke (for oxen, and applies to us as well) is uniquely fitted. No two yokes are the same. For me, I think that the way that Christ provides rest for me is by taking me “out” of this world, which so often overwhelms me and feels full of burdens and heaviness and stimuli, for brief (sometimes longer) moments. This gives me moments of rest.
“And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.” (Mosiah 24:13-16)
“And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?“And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease.But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence; but his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him.” (Moses 1:3-4, 11)
“And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.” (2 Nephi 4:23)
So with those thoughts and scriptures fresh on my mind, I wrote this poem…
Home Away From Home
You will enter this world through birth.
Through this unfamiliar world you’ll roam.
Always ready to come to their aid.
Portals to pieces of home.
In creating, your joy is my aim.
Oceans, stars, flowers, and birds.
An eye of faith, single, don’t tire.
Your soul will be unfurled.
The view was worth the climb.
As time stands still, you’re home.
I took these photos in Charleston, South Carolina a few weeks ago. I thought the drift wood was so beautiful. It also felt so symbolic, laying there on the shore with the lighthouse across the water. It’s easy to feel like I am drifting through this unfamiliar world but Jesus Christ is my lighthouse and He can lead me home, through to safety.
