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The Dark Tendrils

3/26/2021

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The dark tendrils of doubt appear
Inching into view as tiny specks
Barely noticeable at first glance
Sparking no cause for alarm
Insignificant dots on the distant horizon


Oh how devious and deceptive they are
How cunning and sly
The danger creeps ever closer
So benign, so harmless it appears
Only too late does reality expose itself


Doubt is a malignant tumor
A terminal cancer
An insidious invasive enemy
A persistent uninvited parasite
It is a decidedly dangerous enemy


It's true danger…
The extreme difficulty of detangling
Destructing and removing
It's invasive tendrils once set


The infective nature invades
Like a weed
A vine of ivy that burrows and grows
It's only intent is to survive
To thrive
To replicate
To avoid eradication


Doubt.
Its dark tendrils bury deep
Sticking resolute
Inching along, claiming ground
Feeding off every possible scrap of food


And once begun
It is self perpetuating 
Growing on the slightest encouragement 
Until it becomes a monstrosity 
Too large to behold 


Is it any wonder then
That it was THE tool
Our greatest adversary, the serpent
Sneaky and diabolical 
Used upon us, mankind, in that perfect place


"Did God really say…"
Was all it took
Doubt made its entrance into creation
The perfect world
Polluted with uncertainty 


A plague on creation
Ever since
A daily malady
A persistent and unwanted pest
Every decision, every moment more complicated 


And so it goes
Grief or despair
Hurt or anger
Hate and malice
Lust and greed
Envy and jealousy
All springing from doubt


Doubt in your goodness, Abba
Doubt in your love and care
Doubt in your provision 
Your will, purpose, and plan
Doubt in you


The dark tendrils 
Creep 
Inch
Moving slowly at first
And then ravenously 
As they find traction


Overtaking
Darkening
Eating, feeding
And consuming all in their path
Deadly.
All of them.


What a dark and bleak prospect
A despairing view
A hopeless darkness
Were it not 
For an eternal light


Doubt is darkness
Despairing and deep
Profound and real
But we know the light
And light drives out darkness


12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 8:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.


5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Jn 1:5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.


5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 
 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 1:5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.


16  the people dwelling in darkness 
have seen a great light, 
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, 
on them a light has dawned.” 


 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 4:16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.


6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 
 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Co 4:6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.


Doubt need not be
A lingering companion
The dark tendrils of doubt
And all others that invade
Can be removed
By eternal light's true rays


The refuge of light
Shines upon the darkness
And darkness cannot withstand it
Darkness is powerless
When light shines


Drive the dark tendrils
From the dark corners
And hidden recesses 
Of our lives
And fill us with your great light
O True and Eternal One


Shine your light upon our hearts
Flood us with your brilliance
And radiance
And let us worship
At the source of all true light.


Michael Stitzel
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E Fallowfield, PA  19320
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