What we want, oh what we want

Oh how we thirst and lust and wish for what we want

But our striving and our working and our wishing

Block us from what we want

Because of what we’re willing to settle for

What we really want is fulfillment

Fullness of soul wrapped in a blanket of peace

Punctuated by fruitfulness in the lives of those we love

Salted and seasoned by willing sacrifice

That seems sometimes to rob us of the cheap stuff we’re willing to settle for

Sacrifice of what makes us feel connected, like being listened to

Sacrifice, yielding, letting it go,

that wish to be heard, seen, regarded, considered, revered, respected

giving away the desire to pursue being listened to

giving away the desire to pursue what we think will make us feel

CONNECTED

In order to concentrate on, focus on,

Listening to another when they can’t reciprocate

Serving one who can’t repay us

For the purpose of their greater blessing

It is the best bargain I’ve ever made

To give my life away

Turning loose of expectation of return, credit, payment, appreciation, title, reciprocation

That I might learn more about considering,

Really considering the interests of others as more important than my own

I’m talking about their greater interests, not just the cheap stuff they want to settle for

Sometimes their greater interest is served by denying them what they demand

And making them mad in the denial

Sometimes their greater interest is served by giving them what I need

More than they do

When I get to the heart’s destination of loving others more than I love my comfort

Then I begin to see the value of sacrifice

And when I see the fruit to others born of my death to self

I begin to get what I really want

Fulfillment

Fullness of soul wrapped in a blanket of peace

Punctuated by fruitfulness in the lives of those I  love

Salted and seasoned by willing sacrifice

And knowing

KNOWING the friendship of the living and loving God

Being touched by His hand that

Guides me to ask Him for what He wants to give

There is no better way to live than to give one’s life away

Freely, passionately

In service to the King

Through serving others

And knowing a connection with Him

And a freedom from lusting after the cheap stuff

And

It is

Peace

And it is

Fulfillment

And it is

glory

07/21/2004