Testimonial of a Poet

by Pat Darnell

At one point in my adult life I re-read Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah. I then shied away because... [this will sound silly]... I felt I was puffed up with knowledge. In other words as I with my family be-bopped around the newer, exciting, rock and roll churches in Chicago area, fellow Christians would ask me about a subject, but become troubled by my answers. Not good for one-another group gatherings. I think I became a buzz-kill, party-pooper in my circle.

But I am compelled to tell others about other dimension of some of the books in Old Testament. This is, therefore, an apology for wondering. May I explain?

One wise person once said "If you continue writing poetry past your twenties, then you are a poet..." Paraphrased here, and who wrote that, I have forgotten; the point is universal though. I found this prerequisite when I was in my thirties, and still very much a closet poet.

I then found another fantastic phrase somewhere, probably in a preface to a Zondervan Bible... "Ezekiel, Jeremiah, David, and Isaiah and the poets had lives only artists have. In the message of the Torah these writers have given us a record of the feelings of having a faith."

Poetry is that, precisely, a record of faith beyond regulation and law; in otherwise "feelings." The passages of these writers have given us a path to the depth, height and width of our feelings in relationship with God, Jesus, and Our Comforter.

Also, if I have read correctly, lives of the poet authors follow closely Vasari's Lives of the Artists. Or Stone's Agony and the Ecstasy: lives of artists are not all that Christian-looking when evaluated from a seven deadly sins perspective. Let's look at a modern poet. Say, Willie Nelson -- long-lived amidst short-lived musicians and songwriters -- is not a candidate for sainthood, it turns out his life is full of pitfalls that most others do not want to record in poetry or prose. Right?

Most persons have actually expunged from all public record deeds that are derogatory. Could I contrast Willie to Al Gore...? ...and Google to find any juicy, naughty, revealing poetry written fubu [for us/ by us] for Gore and his kin? Both Willie and Al are trying to influence society in their own time. Who is to say they are not the same person, saying the same thing in entirely different ways? One abides with poetry and feelings; the other finds his way through law and politics.

I believe articles of the Old Testament give us believers our expected standards for Faith. Interpretations matter less than our absorbing our experience as we forge ahead into the future, no matter how one reads it. In my old age I am now more convinced that Jesus considers me His present being, and it turns out He is my Past and Future being. This allows me freedom from my consternation, fear and otherwise greed, feelings that are not derived in the Spirit of Christ.

Go figure that I would be so blessed... and a total baby crying all along the way too... who would give me a chance? That is why when I see someone studying Ezekiel and the poets, I perk up:

Here is a very interesting discussion from this amazing website... thank you for reading:
Based on what I have just communicated, I now ask you: Are you also a poet?

Heaven Awaits: Bible Predicts final Fate of Gaza and Palestinians

Prophecy from the Book of Isaiah

Isa 14:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit [shall be] a fiery flying serpent.

Isa 14:30 And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.

Isa 14:31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, [are] dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none [shall be] alone in his appointed times.

Isa 14:32 What shall [one] then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.