Only With God
In my poem, “Only With God,” I write that one can have great joy while simultaneously holding great sorrow. We can be sad and happy at the same time; we do not have to be one or the other. Holding the tension of these opposite emotions heightens our human experience. This is difficult for many, however; God can hold this tension for us, enabling one to feel joy while carrying deep sorrow.
Holding the tension of contrasting feelings, happiness while carrying deep sadness, is virtually impossible for man - but not for God. God can hold this tension for us, enabling one to feel joy while carrying deep sorrow. What is impossible for man is not for God because with God all things are possible.
Only With God
It is not or, but and
Holding the opposites if we can
Just as the dark and sad
Give meaning to the light and glad
All the spectrum of feeling and emotion
Keep our humanness continuing in motion
Tears and smiles tie the perfect bow
Like fall and spring, we reap and sow
Opposites can be held together like one
Just as a day is a moon and a sun
Unnecessary losses can make us weep
But sadness and joy, we can both keep
Polar tensions lead to a balanced, vast life
Peace and contentment with no strife
Opposites we can hover between
Observing and noticing, not being drawn into the scene
Diverging emotions live in broken hearts
The cracks allow them into the deepest parts
But it is only God who helps us contain
The tension of opposites and maintain
Suffering and joy, love and loss
Held together at our hearts' cost
With integration of the many into one
Diverse, complex capacity can come
Holding the opposites enhances and enriches our lives even more
This is how our humanness can allow us to soar
It is not about the one dimensional or, but the multidimensional and
Only with God, we will find we can....
-Dr. Rhonda Milner
"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” Matthew 19:26
"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'” Mark 10:27
"I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
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