The Bride Waits

The Bride waits
Nothing but a Promise rests in the center of her heart
But it is a Promise that brings worlds to their knees
A Promise ringing out into the ages
A Promise that wraps up the darkness and arrests the noise
A Living Reservoir of Peace

Trusting what I cannot see
Is like understanding what I cannot understand
Like dancing to music I cannot hear
Being nourished with food I cannot taste
And in the darkness on either side
A ravine, one of fire and the other of ice
And I walk haltingly forward
Feeling heat and chill menacing to my left and right
And Your voice leads me on

I hold onto it till I bleed
Afraid my grip is too loose
And I will fall

Don't I realize
It's not me at all
I don't hold the Promise
It holds me
It holds me
All it asks is that I give up my trying
And fall wholeheartedly into the arms I can't see
Resting there
The Promise holds me

But there is no reward for the Bride who will not wait
Who takes her Promise and spends it on flammable pastimes
The Promise holds me
But only in holding the Promise, only in returning its grip can I find life to the fullest

The Bride waits
His coming is meant to surprise her
A cunning kidnapping, the rapture
To steal her away Home
The Home that is not ready
Until she is

Trembling, shaken Bride
Wait
Buy up all the oil you can
Light your hope-lamp and stay awake
He's coming!
He's coming!
Keep your love pure, undivided
Be deaf and blind to all that would steal it
Lean into the Promise
And wait