I guess I loved too deeply, couldn’t help myself.
Don’t come any closer, it only hurts me more.
I gave my heart to you, my mind and spirit too,
but still you cannot see me clearer, you don’t want to.
Will I ever walk these broken streets again?
I thought you loved me more, my rosebush friend,
and if I must surrender these streets I love,
I pray you will one day remember it was you I loved.
Chapter 1
Air was coming. Cold and light, small and wide. She turned away, her hair closing her eyes. The sound was distant, a heartbeat closer. As the mountain turned the corner, the river whispered to the sun, the leaves trembling. The footprint pointed to a larger being, maybe a child with a child, inside. In the wind came the secret she knew, as it called her closer. Simple, she thought. But eloquent enough. Tears are seldom wrong but they washed her heart, her soul floating light and free now. Never again, she prayed, hoping the fragrance would make a way for her spirit. The child was clean. And mostly pure. Inquisitive and kind and trusting and a little unsure. His hands soft and sweet, holding gingerly, hopefully, onto truth and comfort. Gently he watched, eager to see. His joy like a healing flow, cleansing her words and caressing her scars.
Chapter 2
It is a wicked thing when trust is stolen and innocence framed. And the thief is the teacher. He wasn’t too sure, but he knew coldness had come as a spiteful friend. The blood, only a trickle on his face, became a river in his soul. Many years it carried many away and also some to safety. It still flows today, a nearly invisible sparkling true. The distance came close yet never close enough to be removed. In the tragedy a sadness gave birth to life and truth and healing, even as sometimes the shadow still hides in the light.
Chapter 3
It wasn’t easy but hiding was good. Liberating, actually. Behind the wall he could be whoever he needed to be. She knew the truth but was always afraid to share it. Alone and alone, and lonely too. In what she made she sowed her soul, the harvest coming mostly when she was gone. To defend and protect she gave all away, seeing only some of her reward and just a glimpse of the once promised peace. In the making she created something special and unique and deep and lovely. The winds of her soul sang through the fragrance, touching all who spent the courage to enter. In her eyes the universe settled calmly, mystery touched and saved. Her nails, strong like iron and still pure as gold, spoke of the love and the loss and the still hoping.
Chapter 4
Always there was the possibility of change, of transformation to life and joy. Intelligence bears many burdens, even as they whisper the world. Sweetness too can rob you. Again and again. Eyelashes are good for gain but not for shade when the shade is true. She would wander through the forest of dreams, dancing through the broken twigs and rotting leaves and unsinging birds. And yet, usually one song was often enough. Just enough to find the next path. Simple strength to cover the night once more.
Chapter 5
He couldn’t control his smile, those inquisitive eyes always asking, learning, searching for more. A lovely tapestry woven with grace, climbing the clouds and bringing joy to the skies. A mountain, the lightning, the prayers, the knife and the fork. The happy, pure love of a seeking son. The deep love of a sacrificing mother. These things even the universe cannot fully perceive or bear.
You, like me, have at some point in your spiritual journey said, “I just want to be like Jesus.”
And you, like me, soon discovered how easy it is to say and incredibly difficult to do!
To live like Jesus means simply that we study His words and example and then emulate Him. Practically, we daily, constantly seek to think, speak and act as He did. We manifest this in our own unique ways as our imperfect lives are filtered through His perfect example. The Apostle Paul expresses this beautifully when he says, “Follow my example even as I follow Christ.”
Of course, living like Jesus is absolutely impossible without reading, studying and applying His Word, with the power of His Holy Spirit to enable us. It is His Word which tells us how to live like Him and it is the Holy Spirit who teaches, guides and empowers us to be like Him. Is it really possible to live like Jesus? Absolutely. Is it difficult? Yes, very much so.
The question is not so much can I do it but rather how do I do it. The Father expects us to become like His son. We read in Romans 8:29 that His greatest desire and intention for His children is that we all are transformed into the image of His Son. His heart is to have a heaven full of children who are like His one beloved and perfect son, Jesus Christ.
Being like Jesus is a lifelong goal and journey. It is a daily and constant practice made with choice and passion. It requires a change of thinking, feeling and lifestyle. Once you choose to attempt living like Him, it changes everything abut your life. Your time, energy and intentions are profoundly affected and the climb up the mountain becomes steeper and more demanding the higher you go.
But it is always worth it because the higher you climb the more spectacular the view becomes.
Lorenzo Agnes 