Writing

I've always enjoyed writing but mostly for myself or when needed for school, a job, or for correspondence but lately I've been led to write for our youth ministry. This piece was written for our Teen Christmas Celebration and read in a dramatic fashion by my son Byron. It was presented as a gift in hopes that it would cause self examination about one's spiritual condition and urge action.



The piece is called, I'm Stuck in a Rut


I’m stuck, in this rut, can’t get out for nothing. It’s my life where so many others here just fussing and cussing.
It’s the same place I was in last year and for fear I do not move, though I want to improve, my condition
God I do want out but this rut is like home for me now and when sin calls I bow and begin to give in to the whim of my Master…the Devil
I dance to his music, recite every lyric, that fills up my spirit and then I re-spit it
I drink his sweet nectar, from bottles and cans from the hand of the one who passes it round and round and round and...
I drink till I’m swaying can’t control what I’m saying it’s the drink I’m obeying and soon I’m fading
The video hypnotizes and sends my hope rising that I can be, just like he and she on my TV riding and styling laid back in what… a Maserati?
Nah that can’t be for me don’t you see, it can’t be,
No one rises from here they just disappear changing from one jail house bunk to another year after year it’s the norm around here
Breaking the heart of the mom and grandmother
Breaking the law stealing dope from each other, fighting and some killing their lovers, and even their brothers
I can’t find no body whose come out so no wonder the pit just seems deeper, and darker to me, feels like I’m ‘bout to be buried beneath…the sins I’ve committed, the lifestyle I’ve chosen,
Sometimes I see light and a rope coming near me, but who could it be, I can’t see
Every time I move closer to see, hands start grabbing me, pulling me back to my place in the rut
I’ve heard someone trying to get a message to me so I can get out and be free,
so I strain my ear to hear the voice clear but then the crowd near me gets louder, they bump up the beats of the streets, that’s replete with the message that keeps me in this rut so deep
I heard ‘bout a book that has text that’s complete, unique in its message, God’s message it speaks
The verses tight, are meant to give sight to those blinded by their condemning plight
The text shines light on my condition, so much so, I’m like a deer caught in the high beams of the headlights, I’m guilty I know it the text says conviction.
What can I do, to undo the sentence, all have sinned,
yours are many the judge has pronounced it and it’s louder than the beats on the streets, it pierces like well sharpened cleats, and announces what’s due to me is death that’s eternal, a final destination that can’t be escaped from
I want to deny it, though my money can’t buy it, the freedom I want has too high a price that’ s beyond my reach, it’s God’s law I have breached, so the teacher did teach and the preacher did preach
The more I hear this text, and read this text it only confirms what’s next for me, a future more like the same unless I decide to completely surrender my life to the One who has paid, by the life he has laid down on the cross to be stuck through and through to do what only he can to redeem man as by God’s plan,
I’ve heard so many times and turned my back on God’s plan of salvation for man, it’s time I stand and take his brand, I’ve tried other ways like my family and friends and still left in this rut with no hope in the end.
Jesus the savior who came to seek and to save those who are lost and sins slave
His search light of hope, holiness and love searches down in this rut, through the filthiness of my sin, his hand reaches in to offer a way of escape
I can see the scars of the nails and the stains of blood that was shed from his head to his feet, makes forgiveness a possible feat accomplished for me
The beauty of his offer is appealing to me, gripping my heart with grace and mercy, can it be
Like a fool I start to look for another way out, and the text reverberates Jesus is the way the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father but by Him, the Son, he is the One.
My heart’s pounding, I’ve seen others reach for his hand, and spit out lies of surrender, pretending salvation but he ain’t no sucker, he knows who just wants out without living for him in the end so he lowers them back down because they never really wanted to leave their sin
He’s still searching for me, reaching down for me; I push past my fear and my doubt and reach out to Him
I’m for real with myself and with God for the first time, I see He is holy, pure and clean past Clorox bleach white, I mean shining bright like the s-u-n is the S-O-N of God and I feel the shame and guilt of my sin and disrespect to Him
Sorry I reach up for his hand, guilty I seek his mercy, filthy I hope for cleansing in this place of darkness and sin
He offers forgiveness and grace I don’t deserve and can’t earn it, by faith I believe what he says he will do and receive the free gift of salvation that’s true
He lifts me out pass those who like crabs in the barrel want me to stay but no way, I’m not pretending I want him to change me, I’m clean and new with a bright future too filled with his promises of friendship, never to leave me, eternal life and security, a relationship not based on what I can do for him but all he’s done for me see, I’m free no more chains holding me, free with victory over my enemy who for so long held me down in his trash dump I thought was life.
Those old ways are passing, I’m new
My cussing, drinking, smoking, lying are dying as my new self grows strong
I’m into his text, that’s alive and powerful, helping me turn from those old that held me so long
I talk to him with each day that’s new to find out what he wants me to do
I’m finding his ways are better, than mine ever could have been I was fooling myself that there was happiness in sin only now through His life I have peace with in and that can be true for you too my friend.