Michael Milton

Michael Milton and Faith for Living, Inc.

  • Communication
    • Sermons
    • Books
      • Sounding the Depths
      • Silent No More
      • Hit by Friendly Fire
      • Songs in the Night
      • What is the Doctrine of Adoption?
      • Small Things, Big Things
      • What God Starts, God Completes
      • Previous Books
    • Music
      • When Heaven Came Down
      • Through the Open Door
      • Follow Your Call
      • He Shall Restore
    • Resources
      • Commentaries
      • Letters to Our Students
      • Links
      • Faith for Living Podcasts
    • Special Offer
  • Discipleship
  • Education
    • DJK Institute
  • About
    • Biography
    • Press Kit
  • Giving

May 8, 2013

The Cross is Always our Friend: A Poem

In the blink of an eye
You have plucked me out of
“Available” and “unavailable,” where
Unflagging demands extracted the
Marrow of the remains of
Scheduled devotional times, and
The corporeal aches either
Festered or fed
The public persona already held up by unproven
Alchemy, mixed motivations, love, and prayer.
It was not a matter of hypocrisy,
But the mere survival from one meeting to another—
Of rising from the bed one more
Day.
Now, I mourn the loss of the unbridled drive
the ceaseless orbit of people, places, calendars,
And the hourly test of the will against this ever-faltering
Physique. The distemper is now full-blown,
As if at last unhinged by the pretense of
Employment. The mad woman ravages me,
Punishes me, seeks revenge for failing to pay court to
Her when first she appeared. Yet herein is
The supreme victory: I am slower, therefore
I read poetry slowly. My patterns are irregular,
Disarmed by the tricks of some mysterious neurology;
So, I do not have scheduled devotional times,
I am able to simply live devotionally.
I am able to read, pray, eat, walk, write, and pray
With devotion.
Maddeningly simple.
My malady has become my spiritual director.
The wicked witch is but a little shepherdess under
The magisterial power of the true Master, leading me
Down gentle paths where once I passed in fevered anxiousness
To serve others to discover their own paths.
The wretched things that are attacking me are now
Stroking my forehead. I am more alive. For
I might have lost sight of the cross as I spoke of it.
The spike in my body has made it real.
The cross is reminding my soul of the tomb
That I forgot would come, and the
Eighth day glory that would follow.
Oh blessed reminder. Oh small cost.
Oh Holy Comforter.
The cross is always our friend.

Comments

  1. edgar allen poe says

    May 9, 2013 at 9:30 am

    It is not poetry, it is prose! There is no poetic structure.

    • Michael Milton says

      May 9, 2013 at 10:05 am

      May we call it Free Verse? I certainly agree it is not sonnet. Thanks.

Podcast

Faith For Living
Faith For Living

Commited to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Loving Fellowship
byDr. Michael Milton

Faith For Living with Dr. Michael Milton
March 21, 2023
– A study from Acts 28:11-16.


https://accradio.com/programs/erskinefaithforliving/faithforliving031423.mp3

Download (Right-Click To Save)

Loving Fellowship
Loving Fellowship
March 21, 2023
Dr. Michael Milton
Search Results placeholder

Subscribe. Follow. Listen.

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • apple-podcasts
Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

What is Faith For Living?

Faith for Living is the 501c3 North Carolina non-profit ministry of the Rev. Michael A. Milton, Ph.D. that exists to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible, through every means available, so that there will be a multitude caught up to be with Jesus Christ when He comes again. Faith for Living reaches out to support individuals, the Church, and other non-profits through communication, discipleship, and education.

Featured Music of Michael Milton

“Christ is Risen” words & music by Michael Anthony Milton
© 1999, 2012, 2020, 2021 Bethesda Music (a div. of Faith for Living, Inc.) | BMI | CCLI

Featured Book

“When your heart is broken, when your spirit is so crushed that you wonder if you will live again; when your life is in a total blackout; then, this book will give you the light and strength you need to carry on.”

—Russell, Amazon Reviews.

Songs in the Night is available in paperback and Kindle. Songs in the Night: How God Transforms Our Pain to Praise is NOW AVAILABLE in  Audiobook on AUDIBLE. Click here to purchase now.

This website is licensed under a Creative Commons License · Web design, development, and hosting by Five More Talents