“Firm Foundation”
Within the vase, a sturdy holder of sorts,
Its arms reach out, claiming their place,
A steadfast guardian, supporting slender stems,
Cradling them gently, keeping them straight.
With openings aplenty, it arranges the flowers,
A colorful symphony, diverse in shape,
Each blossom carefully positioned,
An arrangement born from careful choices.
In this ceramic or metal companion's care,
Petals and blooms find their proper spots,
A composition of colors, shapes, and textures,
Turning the vase into a living canvas.
With every stem added, a story unfolds,
A canvas where nature's beauty is told,
The vessel transformed into a work of art,
A silent creator, showcasing nature's heart.
This week in my poetry course, we were assigned the task of composing a poem about any object, emphasizing rich descriptions to evoke vivid imagery through our words. Poetry often poses a significant challenge for me, as capturing intricate emotions and thoughts within the constraints of verse can be pretty demanding. I find it intriguing that imagery can sometimes be challenging with words but simultaneously beautiful because it transcends mere words and taps into a realm of sensory experience, painting vivid mental pictures that engage our senses and emotions. It adds depth, color, and texture to language, allowing us to perceive and connect with the world profoundly.
While struggling to come up with an object to use within my poem, I thought of how it had been a while since I had used my many flower frogs for an arrangement. A flower frog holds flowers in place within a vase, keeping them arranged neatly and allowing for a beautiful and structured floral display. I am someone who loves flowers, either buying them for myself or someone gifting some out of love.
To grow a flower, plant a seed in the earth, nurture it with sunlight and rain, and watch as it awakens, unfurling its beauty into the world. What, then, do you do with flowers? Well, you display them and show them off in all of their beauty, but you want to use something that will be sturdy. Therin enters the flower frog! I have been collecting many flower frogs for a while now, and it has been super resourceful every time. It has never failed me!
As I started to type up my poem, a Hymn kept playing in my head that references these Bible verses: Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:2, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Hebrews 13:5.
How firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word
What more can He say than to you He hath said
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled
Fear not, I am with thee; oh be not dismayed
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand
When through the deep waters I call thee to go
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake
A firm foundation is crucial because it provides stability and support, whether it be construction, relationships, or any other aspect of life. It ensures durability, resilience, and the ability to withstand challenges, ultimately serving as the basis upon which success and growth can be built. I was then reminded of another Hymn that references multiple verses, mainly Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:47-49.
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness hides His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne
In the midst of our trials and tribulations, our unwavering trust remains in the Holy Spirit's guidance and in Jesus, who stands as the chief cornerstone—the foundation from which our salvation, faith, and righteousness emanate. There is no other foundation, structure, or name through which salvation can be achieved; it is solely by the shed blood of the perfect Jesus that salvation becomes possible.
Why share this poem and these hymns? Well, I found it interesting that my poem uses unfamiliar but familiar examples of what we see in the Bible. I would say that since I am in a secularized setting (I attend a public University), I have to be careful of how I present my Biblical worldview to a room of unbelievers and even haters of the church and Christ. And by careful, I mean delicate. I say that I am not ashamed or afraid to share the Gospel and be openly Christian. But then I’d be lying to you, reader, and to myself. I told friends that I feared my grades would be at risk and affected and that I would be an outcast and disliked.
As I become more Reformed in my theology, I become less worried about how people view me. Because let’s be honest, the Gospel isn’t about me, and nor is my life my own. University has taken a toll on my heart and soul, but I will write right now for all the world to see or to whoever is reading, I plan always to add my Lord and Savior into my work. However, I can, even if that means using the most simplistic tool, such as a flower frog that holds the most beautiful and fragrant flowers as an example of the Fearfully and Wonderfully made, being set upon the cornerstone that gives the body of Christ a firm foundation. You have my email; if I do not hold not only to the Biblical standard but to the standard I set for myself in my writing, you have permission to write and hold me accountable. Until next time, reader!
