The Peace He Gives

kind words are like sweet flowers gather them up like little yellow daisies and sweet lavender in a wild field of sharp grasses and overgrown weeds inhale them memorize the scent sketch their shape and color in your minds eye do not lose the feeling of the stems in your fingers or the silky soft petals hold them against your chest near a window in a vase freshen the water in the spring let the sun and fresh air in and when the cold comes keep in the warmth light a candle near the mirror admire each stark shadow and count the glimmers in your eyes that is hope let it carry you and when the sun returns it will light up all that you are written by Megan Token Nov. 2022

  Watch the Sky tent canvas walls protect me from clocks the forestry allows me to leaf my watch on my bed stand the sky sun moon and stars their journeys guide mine and how I spend the little time among them presently I lay staring  at the sky among the trees for once I lay still while their shadows grow longer Poem written by Megan Token July 2022

  Thoughts on Singleness July 2022 I am 24 and I have never even been on a date.  “What’s wrong with me? No one has even asked me out on a date, so there must be something that I am missing, right? Is it my clothes or my hair? My personality? The way I walk, or talk? Is it that I can be a bit of a loner? Does my body, mind, or soul need to mature? Is God waiting for me to learn to be content with myself first?  I’ve heard others say: “it’s good to figure yourself out before dating someone else.” “Singleness is a time to do what you want.” “Being single is so free.” “God has the perfect one for you.” “Don’t worry, you will get married eventually.” “God is growing you (or your future spouse) until you both are ready.” The reality is I may never get married. I do not feel “happy and free” about being single.  The truth is Jesus accepts me as I am and fills in my empty places. He alone makes me worthy. In other words, nothing I do will change the fact I am single ...

 Hello friends!  As you may recall I chose to turn off the television shows for the whole lenten season. What I knew going in was that I was spending too much time watching tv as a distraction and as a time filler. What I did not know was what was going to come out of all that free time.  God knew.  First, I was at a loss of what to do with myself. Normally I turn on a show when I am eating a meal. Now, my thoughts were free to be heard and to wander in the silence; I began to turn to the last thing I expected: prayer. Meal times became prayer times. I would pray for my food, and my body, and then I would pray for my family, my friends, and anything else that came to mind. Every thought was brought before the throne of God at least twice a day if not three times, whereas before, I had prayed exaclty zero times. Did I keep a perfect streak? Absolutely not. I definitely watched movies as a distraction sometimes. I would sit there while my roommate watched her televisio...

  Lenten Season 2021 Giving up: excessive time doing homework Adding: Intentional rest time God sees my heart. He sees my tendency to idol academics; putting it first and foremost in my life above my relationships, my well-being, and even above God. God sees that when he offers me the opportunity to re-devote my life to him, I choose that opportunity faithfully, even though I still feel stressed and my mind is telling me I am “too busy”. I once heard that busy stands for “Burdened Under Satan’s Yoke.”  I want to live a full life; not a busy one.  Lenten Season 2022 Giving up: Television Adding: Prayer time Reading last years journal entry, I laugh, because now I am no longer in school, and yet I still have a problem. Even with work, I try to fill the time around it with things to keep me busy. Television is time-consuming but it leaves my soul empty and my mind numb. Working on an art project opens my soul with self-expression and gives me a sense of accomplishment when f...

North Carolina hazed blue hills tall thin trees perched river runs its’ edges tucked tiny towns mobile homes plays neighbor with university apartments local shack cafe and starbucks stare across the street separate lives patient ancient pines

 Lacking a human need vs. Diagnosis        For me, depression looks like not enjoying the things that usually bring me joy, such as an art project or writing, (which is part of why I have not been writing). I thought, with frustration, that I was falling into depression. Here is a journal entry from the other night I want to share:       "no wonder I get sad and unmotivated when I am lonely...I am not only motivated doing things for people, but rather, doing things WITH people. Life together is what we are created for. I feel no joy in doing things, even things I enjoy, when I am alone every time. I am not depressed; I simply am lacking a human need for wholeness. I lack human relation-aka-doing life with others."       If I went to a counselor, they most likely would diagnose me with depression. I would argue that this is a quick answer that does not include all the factors. Humans were created for connection. When we do ...

My reason for writing and my long term goal as a writer...explainations to come... let my letters be mirrored as pixels rhymes with paint splotches poetry and picture senses expressed in color each story on canvas or captured through a lens behind the facade of art my soul every artist has a reason every human has feelings it’s how we choose to express them that distinguishes artists from hopeless romantics for God’s glory Amen Written by Megan Token

This poem was meant to be posted around Christmas time, so here it is a bit late, enjoy! this present moment is a gift in it there is grace rest in it open it let the ribbon stick to your hair the tissue paper tear and sway across the floor strip away the wrappings and shout with joy and genuine gratitude of this gift let it fill you strengthen you not because you deserve it but because you are loved and that’s not just worth living it’s worth giving Written by Megan Token

     A few weeks ago I began to read Genesis 1. Little did I know that this was just the beginning (pun intended) of God speaking to me about my identity and value in Him. Now, I’d love to share the journey thus far with you.  First I will start at the beginning in Genesis 1:26-27:  “ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”    Have you ever taken a few minutes surrounded by creation? How about in solitude? If you have, you might have experienced the beauty and awe of God’s work. Take yourself back to that place of wonder. Breath it in. Then think about this: God created you and said you are very good. Not only that, but he put you i...

What if sunshine was liquid like lemonade and what if rain was what washed the stickiness away Would it burn a freshly brewed teapot spurting it’s contents or would it feel comforting and soaking a hot spring in thin air the warmth seeping into cold longing skin what if sunshine had a flavor if we opened our mouths when it dropped from its’ source slow like a lava lamp bloop splat does it burn like fiery cheetos or chili pepper spice is it lemon your mouth puckering around the sour burst is there any sweetness in the sun fresh lemonade and lemon drop candies does it disappear as soon as it hits your outstretched tongue or does it stick like fruit leather each chew releasing a revival of flavor the refreshment of summer senses after a long chilly bowl and cloud flaked season Written by Megan Token

Written by Megan Token Sometimes I’ll love you  Like water on a rock  Closely blanketed  And cooled  Over and over  Forming and shaping  It might feel hard  To breath  It might hurt  When parts of you float downstream    Sometimes I’ll love you  Like sun  In the dry season  Warmth and light  Will soak  Dry your tears  Lay out your skin  Feel my radiant glow  When your all dried up  Parched and cracking  I’ll send raindrops  Pitter pattering  River rising    Over and over  Let the seasons show you  The way you feel  My child  Might change  But my love  My love  Will remain

Mourning Thoughts in the quiet dust of yellow light I blink and open and inhale a familiar somber dread lays over me like the scruffy and heavy blankets at grandma’s house tears of last night stick to my chest like tape and string ready as a gift to unwrap or to put away in that musty closet I know the easier answer this is no exciting opening nor is it a surprise this present moment unraveling a nostalgic wound thank you past thank you future how thoughtful I move to get up anyway my hands hold this weight trembling fingers lift it to my Father  He knows how to take care of it for me I face toward the window light the morning birds sing a  new rejoicing my ears are connected to my soul connecting to my lips a song that I receive I open thank you Father