OUT OF THE DARKNESS

God of Justice

God of Peace

The Spirit of Mercy

Has been released

##

THE CONTEST

"June, would you like to take part in a public speaking contest?" said my teacher.

That is how it started.

I was fourteen years old and in a school for marginalized girls.

A wounded kid

Thrown outside the gate of society

"How could I compete?" I wondered.

I would not have the right clothes.

Thoughts swirled around in my head

I was an outsider kid

I would be competing against insider kids.

"I would not have a chance," I thought.

The teacher saw something in me and was giving me a chance.

I took it.

##

THE SPEECH

I walked with rubbery legs to the platform.

Removing my glasses

I blurred the audience

This was a large crowd from the schools around.

Teachers, kids, and visitors from the surrounding area

The girls from my school took up two front rows

##

I stiffened my back and started the speech

I opened my mouth

The voice I heard was mine

Distinct and clear

##

I spoke to them about a house of tomorrow

A house that God would build

A family would live there

A mom and dad and two children

A boy and a girl

They would never be separated

No one would be hurt there

Fear would never live in that house.

My speech became a fourteen year old's speech of protest.

Delivered from brokenness and in the middle of darkness

I raised my voice with passion.

When I finished, the room became silent.

I was afraid, and tears were running down my face.

A soft rustling started in the room .

People started to rise from their seats

and clap and yell out

The girls from the school were jumping and yelling out

I won the contest and for many years I kept the medal.

/j.smith/outside the gate

##

I will sprinkle new water on you, and you will be clean."

"And I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit within you."

/Ezekiel 36, 25

##

God of Compassion

Jesus the Son

Into your arms

Again I run

Jesus, Jesus, You know my pain

I run to you Lord

Again and again

Now my heart is full of praise

Out of the darkness

A child was raised

Wounded and broken

You healed my mind

In you alone Lord

Healing I find

Out of the darkness

Into the light

On the cross

Wrong became right

Truth and Justice

Around you reign

Justice was won

Again and again

God of Justice

God of Peace

The Spirit of Mercy

Has been released

/j.smith

"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Jude 24)