Shine

Pans sizzle in the morning light.  

Fresh joy rising with the sun as it sifts through our very veins. 

The light breaks through, just as in this community a new light has birthed. 

Here, the walls of privileged to poor are torn down, 

Hands outstretched, Tilling the soil, 

Planting seeds and watering souls with neighbors. 

Eyes looked into,  Stories heard, 

Burdens stood beside, 

And hearts rejoice and break together, in community. 

There is power in community, 

Power in the gift of presence, 

The gift of love, 

The gift of showing up and meeting need. 

Here, it is not about the most educated, 

But rather the most willing. 

It is not to say who is better equipped for the task, 

But much more so whose feet are glad to stand in the unknown territory and say yes to the call. 

With humble hands teach what we know, 

We come alongside where we can, 

We learn, create, listen and laugh. 

We find joy together.  

We know that standing together is a gift, 

For in standing alone we only encircle our own depravity. 

The gifts and talents we are given are not for fame and selfish glory, 

But rather for spreading seeds in community WITH one another, not FOR one another. 

Here we stand on the edge of beauty and pain. 

To live where bread is a gift, clean water a delight. 

Where false security of money often unknown, 

Yet a willingness to love and serve given most freely. 

Here where the word of God is breathed in as nourishing oxygen, 

Where satisfaction sinks deep into bones and does not return void. 

Where earth might crumble and fall, 

Yet promise of joy and peace remain.  

When mountains of injustice and hardship rise, 

Community stands together in unity, 

Encircling trust and bringing light, bringing glory down to earth. 

Here, entitlement falls beyond its borders and the longings of the human heart builds gratitude, That flows from lips like spring water in a stream. 

Welcome overflows here. 

The impact of welcome is doors flung open wide at the threshold of love. 

Here, where hearts are allowed to break that we might walk alongside the brokenhearted. 

Here, where a family chose to stay, 

Chose to see their neighbors, 

To come alongside the need, 

To water the ground set before them together, 

To be an extension of grace. 

Even now, pain and suffering are very real, yes indeed, 

But now they exist within a breath of hope, 

A hope that does not disappoint. 

And now, dancing rules the day, like fireflies rule the evening sky. 

All the way home we shall sing the Lord’s song, 

His song of mercy, of faithfulness, of love. 

In the morning, Jesus comes, 

In the morning, joy rises, light rises, 

Shining for the community to see. 

Here, we sing the Lord’s song of hope over this village, 

This country, this world, this generation, 

We sing the Lord’s freedom song.  

Washing stale hearts with gentle waters, 

Breaking hearts of stone for souls of clay; 

Able to move through the beckoning of the Spirit. 

As we give of our time, the Lord gives heart restoration in return. 

Happy is the giver, 

Happy is the one who knows to fully live, 

We must fully give it all aways. 

True light does not shy of the darkness. 

True light shines bright in caves of depravity and shares the flame. 

It is a gift to give and a gift to be given to. 

Love extended, love returned. 

Go. Be love to your neighbors. 

Go. Love wherever you might be. 

THIS is how we shine. 

Oh, the light that shines so relentlessly here.

I also created a film for this project. If you would like to experience the poem this way, feel free to watch below.

Shine is an organization that I widely respect and admire. If you would like more information about what they do or to come alongside their beautiful work, you can check out more at: https://www.shinevillageinitiative.org