Suffering

This was inspired by Eric's message today (on suffering).

Suffering – Lee A Buckingham, September 13, 2009

The broad road is smooth
     easy does its way wander
Down into the valley
     a cloak of darkness hides us
Delicious and numbing the poison
     as it flows over our tongue
Ease and comfort pile upon us
     sealing our graves
Our hearts yearn for it,
     this blissful, terrifying death
We hide our deepest parts
     and close our ears to our soul's
     anguished cry

The narrow road winds away
     into the high places it twists
Pain in our legs, weariness in our hearts
     will wear us thin
But as we sweat, amidst the tears
     the poison is drawn from our veins
Christ grants us this suffering, these trials
     for real life, pure joy result
We climb higher and our bodies waver
     but somehow our feet are lifted up
A strength joins with our frailty
     and keeps us on the path
     in our weakness we become strong

But down below the sun does not shine
     it beats not so hard on their backs
A little shade, a downhill path
     draws our minds, deceives us
Suddenly our salvation seems a burden
     surely a little rest is earned
We stop and sit, we wander away
     the suffering of our climb left behind
But in our hearts, real death creeps in
     real suffering, eternal, awaits us
It is a deception that we love
     that this pain is avoidable,
     but through it we are saved

“Follow me,” through hardship and trials
     Your evil parts can yet be slain
     your spirits finally freed
This suffering is not a death,
     but pure water for your souls