The State of Union

Anguished

Darkness surrounds my soul.

Agonized

My soul clings to things you despise above all

Distressed

I play tug of war with lust as it tries to win my soul

Suffering

I dine with jealousy as a close friend.

Confused

Rid yourself of these things and come into union with me

Torn

I want to sing the song of power as its melodies surround me

Jumbled

What I crave is hindering me from what I desire

Tortured

My chest swells with pride as my faith diminishes

Crying

Rid yourself of these things and hide yourself in me

Distraught

I am stabbing myself with the knife of greed as envy is stopping my breathing

Dying

I crawl to you with my heart bleeding and my soul in pieces

Seeking

I no longer want the world; I crave the union with you that you begged me for.

Hoping

You surround my soul

Relieved

My soul can only cling to you

Calmed

You have won the war for my heart

Peaceful

My closest companion is you; my rock

Unclouded

I have come into union with you

Healed

You have patched my self-inflicted wounds; only a faint scar remains

Joyful

Wickedness no longer tempts me

Awake

You have put all desires to sleep and my soul is pure

Alive

This is divine union

The Music of Life

I sit slowly at the old piano of my childhood. The bench creaks and I blow dust off the keys. It is just how I remembered it, sheet music still sits where it did so many years ago. I gently place my fingers on the keys. The keys under my fingers feel safe, like I have found my refuge. The song starts and the song I know by heart comes flooding back to me after all this time. The intervals and melodies swirl around me and I feel goose bumps running down my arm in time to the music. The old piano still carries the sound that I know so well. The first ending is played and I feel tears dancing down my face. As the music becomes soft I see visions of my life play through my head and as it swells so does my heart. The song finishes with a beautiful octave and I sit staring at the ivory keys. I sit until the music has long faded into the air and is only just a memory. I suddenly hear a slow clapping from behind me. I turn around slowly, and there you are smiling with tears in your eyes. If only this moment could last forever.