A New Teacher's Prayer

Dear Lord,

I now know the timing just wasn’t right now.

But I am patient and can wait a little longer.

Prepare me a classroom which will be like a home.

Make it huge, make it comfortable, and supply it

with all of my needs!

Father, let my students enjoy their current teachers.

Let them strive beyond their goals.

Take good care of them and keep them safe.

But remind them to be ready for me!

Thank you for the journey so far.

I’ve cherished the moments that have gotten me here.

Ready my mind, and give me courage, as I

prepare for the fall’s new beginning!

I know my classroom waits beyond this hill,

and I’m walking as quickly as I can!

For not only my classroom waits for my appearance;

My students and school-family are gathered there too!

Soon, dear ones, we will meet at last.

Just be patient, because I am going by God’s timing.

But oh, what a day that day will be!

We will have fun and learn plenty; our brains will grow strong!

And we’ll be there together, especially when rays of sunshine 

turn into cloudy storms.

Dear Father, I can’t wait for our new journey – when I officially 

call myself ‘Teacher.’

Keep me safe and give me wisdom along the way.

And let me follow the examples you gave.

Because, if anyone wants to be a great teacher, all they have 

to do is model after you – the best Teacher there ever was!

Amen! :)

New Day

Clip-art by Microsoft Office

New Day

By R.Andrew

It is a new day. Today is the day to laugh, so smile and let your laughter soar above the clouds. Today is the day to love, so love all of those near and far. Today is the day to praise the Lord, so praise Him as your Mighty King.

Today is a new day; yesterday has gone, so abandon the past—forget it at last! It is a new day, and God is near. It is a new day, so let go of all fears. Allow hope to blossom within your soul; never look back, it is time to go. It is a new day, so live, because life is a precious gift, one so rare and dear.

Breathe Into Me

Clip-art by Microsoft Office

Breathe Into Me
By R.Andrew

09.06.2008

All knowledge seems fake.
My heart wants to break.
At this moment, nothing matters to me.

Numbness has hijacked my soul.
I don’t know where there’s left to go.
Fill my cup – let it run over!

My candle stands alone in the darkness.
The wick has lost its fire, and is charred and shriveled up.
The wax no longer drips because the flames have disappeared.

Who blew out my only hope?

Restore my soul and have it shine for all eternity.
Make your fire to encompass me with your light.
Let me feel your grace.
Give me your merciful love.

Dear Lord, my Father, breathe into me.
Bring this old shell back to life.

Make the dawn break through the night.

Deliverance

Deliverance
By R.Andrew

(Above art created by me!)

I ran as fast as my legs let me. My heart painfully ached to stop running—but no, I didn’t stop. If I did…No, there was no option!

It was dark, and the trees in the forest were all thick and wet. A rainstorm had recently past by, leaving the ground all muddy and slick—I almost fell down a couple of times. The thing that slowed me down the most was my wet clothes; the rainstorm had been fierce, and looked as though it would soon return. Even though my body desperately wanted to rest, I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop…not if I wanted to survive. Therefore, I ran.

They were after me, those men in dark suits. The world used to be better before those men took over our lives—locking innocent victims up, forcing them to accept the new ways, or choose death. Those that chose death were the lucky ones. Those who remain continue to live each minute as their last, always running and never stopping. I know there is a better world ahead. Things just can’t remain as they are. There has to be some help, some hope that waits to rescue us from this terrible bondage known as the New Order. However, while other victims wait for the arrival of this deliverance, I know that my destiny lies behind the same outcome that my family faced.

It is a dream. I know that it is a dream. What kind of world would allow the New Order the dominance over everybody’s lives if it were not a dream? No world would permit such a horror! That is why I cleave to the notion that this is only a delusion…only a dream. My heart yearns to wake and see my wife and kids again, smiling and laughing—their laughter will comfort me once I wake up! If this is only a dream, when will I awake from this nightmare? When my family sees me sleeping, or when bullets tear into my flesh?

Those dark suited men, who work for the New Order, killed my family. They raided my home and mercilessly killed my wife and children—shot them in their hearts, killing them instantly. I wasn’t as brave. Those idiot men, they left my door open, unblocked! I ran past them, guns firing in the background. Don’t ask me why I ran instead of dying graciously like my family; I can only guess instinct played a part in my actions for fleeing. Nevertheless, I ran into a nearby forest. You see, we were hiding out, my family and I. This world, it is not how it used to be. Hearts used to sing of freedom, but now they only scream from fear. Once the New Order arrived, all former governments bowed down and whimpered beneath the Order’s power. It all happened so fast! It was as though the New Order—BANG—appeared out of the nowhere and began destroying lives by their Law of Requisition. Therefore, you see, I hid my family, trying to buy us more time at life—because I knew that we were next…someone’s always next. I guess I failed them, because they were killed, and there I was, still alive…for however long the Order would let me live.

I ran as fast as my legs allowed me. Even though my heart was pounding out of my chest, and my lungs felt like bursting like a tired balloon, I continued to run. After what seemed like an hour, it began to rain again—heavy rain. I desperately wanted to stop, but I knew that I couldn’t. The previous rainstorm, and now this one, had slowed me down enough for the dark suited men to catch up. It was as though both the rain and the men were working together. As I said in the beginning, the ground was all muddy and slick—that was my fall. I ran to where the trees of the forest had formed a circular, vast, clear opening with only a huge rock resting in place. The ground was too wet and slippery. I slipped and fell straight on my back; my breath left my body for a second. My eyes fell directly on the bright full moon overhead; the light shining from it shot down on me like a spotlight, revealing my silhouette.

The dark suited men from the New Order found me before I could get up. As they ran towards me, I closed my eyes and screamed, “Wait! Please, tell me why!” I opened my eyes and saw that the men had stopped dead in their tracks, so I continued my plea. “Tell me why you have taken away our freedom. Why do you rule over our lives as though we are animals? Why do you kill those who oppose your implacable control? Please, tell me the reason…before you kill me.”

One of the men, whom I suppose was the leader, spoke out, “You fool. If you understood our ways, by the Law of Requisition, then you would have known why we do what we do.” I straightened myself up as the leader turned to his men. For a moment, it seemed like he was confused and didn’t understand their reasons either. As the tensions grew stronger, he faced me again, “The old ways were weak…freedom and judgments made us weak. However, the New Order and its Law knew how to make us stronger. What we merely do is take out the weak, so that we can grow stronger. It is as simple as pulling weeds from the grass.” He forced a faltered smile upon his face. “Do you choose life, or death?”

“I choose death.”

I still didn’t understand why a world would allow this shame, but I then knew why my family died—why dear friends have died also. They died while remaining true to themselves, never succumbing to a sadistic regime. As the rain began to clear, I looked upon the shadowed faces of the dark suited men, and knew that my deliverance had come. The last thing I heard, as my life prepared to close, was the sound from a gun. I was set free. I didn’t need to run anymore. I am awake.

© 2007 by R.Gonzalez. "Deliverance" is a published work!

Shambled Soul

Photo from Microsoft Word

Shambled Soul
By R.Andrew


Shambled soul, I know the pain that you have to deal.
Shambled soul, my heart breaks while seeing you drowning
In your tears; knowing that you have chosen to forget
Your years.

I know your heart is not listening to what your mind has to
Say. I see your eyes, they are drifting, and they are
Filled with cold, dark shame. Shambled soul, do not let go;
You are not alone. I feel your pain. I know your shame.

And my love for you has never changed. Just take my hand
And never part; my love will mend your broken heart. Lift
Your heavy head and watery eyes; I have been with you from
The start.

Though the days are long, the seasons are not. The burden
You bear will surely part. I will give you strength when
You are empty. Just understand it is never over; your
Hope will grow stronger. And there will be no more shambled
Soul.

© 2008 by R.Andrew.