Parents: Ways to Direct our Own Desires and Those of Our Children (a good read for grandparents and grandchildren as well)

From time to time, I write for a ministry called xxxchurch.com.  Recently, they posted an article I wrote relative to our desires and how they are 'directed' toward delight or destruction.  The article is tagged on the 'web page' as a student resource.   As such, I thought it would forward it on and share it with you.  I know that many of you have children that are the ages of my  own or younger and that leading them through this world of distorted and misdirected desires can be difficult.

Especially in the (what I call) 'pornographic culture of teen and pre-teen angst.'  The blog is brief and highly accessible.  In fact, it is one that you can read with your son or daughter and can be read by both mom and dad.  If you find it helpful, great!  The website has many, many other resources as well that you might find meaningful.

Feel free to reach out to me as well.  This journey has taught me much.  If I can help others avoid the mistakes I have made, I will gladly and willingly do so.

http://www.xxxchurch.com/teens/6-boundaries-to-keep-your-desires-in-check.html

For those who enjoy poetry, I am including one (along with a summary) called Northern Wind I crafted sometime ago regarding the pain of distorted desire and the hope of desire which ends in delight.




I came across a prayer of Thomas A Kempis in my devotional reading a couple of weeks ago. In his prayer he asks that God would ‘command the winds and tempests of pride to cease.’ The idea of the winds, metaphorically representing our struggle with sin of all types, resonated. In this poem you will journey with one who sees the winds, and indulges desire in the midst of their torrent. His indulgence leaves him dashed on the altar of his own desire.

Yet, this is not the end of the story. He ‘lives again’ to face the ‘winds a howl’ that seek to leave him battered and bruised. In this moment he is found by hope and rests within the enshrinement of God and the freedom found in the safe harbor He provides. While you will note the tragic and deeply painful exploration of our desires improperly aligned, the ultimate aim of the poem is one of hope bound in God’s presence.

Northern Wind© Biz Gainey, 2013
Northern wind sweep closely by
            Sagger near my heart;
            Swooned by its tempestuous song.
Body entangled
Captivated;
Time does creep, creep
           Idly by.
           Tic, tic - tock along.

Mind gratified
Such tempest knows
No line it dare not cross.
Once tingling, now burning through
           I wreak the stench of loss.

The power of its crippling crush
Lay me dashed on my desire.
Wreckage beneath
           though naught is heard
           stifled is its cry.
Weakly strained sadness now felt
           Self loathe born forth in fire.

It warms until it burns me whole;
           Less human I become.
The warmth I sought now found me out
Swept deep into this Northern wind;
           Its fury leaves me numb.

O Northern wind, stay your course;
           Blow not closely by my stride.
For in your song, your sweet, sad song
           Leaps one heart for joy.
           To be dashed, entangled now;
           In dance best left untried.

Your brutal force is known by all
           Swept in your wind a howl.

Yet if I live
           to live again
           wholly human in your gale;
To protect my inner self,
           will I?
Or there I be deceived?

Indeed your wind will blow once more
           There hope I pray to find.
I land safe harbor,
Refuge,
Respite.
I Am
A soul enshrined!

Pining no more
           Kept holy warm;
           Peace embodied.

           Deep!
           Within me.
Once thought forsaken
           Enfolded now.
Splendor grows;
           Yet by degree.