As I reflect upon goals, accomplishments, and overcoming hardships, I am reminded of the things on my heart in 2004 as I penned this little poem.  I hope you enjoy it.

You Can!

I try so hard at everything

I give every effort my best shot.

But no matter how I try to do it all right,

In the end I always cannot.

I work to get more and more done,

To work like a fine tuned robot.

Yet, something always falls through the cracks

In the end I always cannot.

I endeavor to be a better friend,

To care for my buddies allot.

Alas I forget to call, I forget to write!

In the end I always cannot.

I long to be the perfect husband to my wife,

The sweetest friend in this world that she’s got.

However, in moments of stress I still yell and scream,

In the end I always cannot.

O how I yearn as a father to be more,

To give my everything to that sweet little tot.

Yet selfishness still exists in my life,

In the end I always cannot.

My heart so wants to rid my life of sin,

To present myself to Christ without spot.

But in weakness I still fall and stumble,

In the end I always cannot.

I feel so very powerless in every area of my life,

Oh I am such a weak, weak man!

Yet I hope still, because of Your promises,

For though I cannot- You Can!

– Kerry Williams

Very rare is the person who enjoys confrontation.  Most of us simply do our best to avoid it at all costs.  We go out of our way to keep cordial relations and only confront when someone pushes us too far or “backs us in a corner.”  We get all worked up and angry, then suddenly confrontation isn’t that hard.  In fact, when we’re mad it’s rather easy.

We use our anger as a courage battery.  It serves to give us boldness we would not normally have and makes it so much easier to stand up for ourselves.  The problem is that, under the influence of anger, we lose control of the confrontation.  Invariably we say or do something we regret and escalate the problem further.  How many angry words do men wish they could take back?

The real challenge is to be able to engage in confrontation and not let anger have its way.  Jesus was angry, even to the point that He drove men from the temple with whips, but yet He did not sin.  We may feel angry, but we should never allow that emotion to determine our actions.

If you look closely at the anger of Jesus, you’ll notice that His anger was always in defense of God (the temple) or of others (toward the Pharisees).  When he was personally attacked, He kept His cool.  Perhaps this is how we gain control of our anger- to do as He did, and let the personal attacks roll away with forgiveness.  Therefore, next time we are tempted to “lose our cool,” let us ask why we are angry.  If the reason has to do with our own pride or feelings, let us model the words of Jesus at the moment He suffered the greatest offense of all- “Father… forgive them.”

In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered what came to be known as, “The New World,” when he sighted land off the islands now called the Bahamas.  However significant this was to the outcome of world history, it wasn’t what Columbus was expecting or hoping for.  His intent had been to sail directly across the Atlantic Ocean to Japan, so that Spain could beat Portugal in the race toward the “East Indies.”  What he found instead was an entire hemisphere encompassing two continents, and a place in history as the man who discovered a new world!

Although most of us will not be remembered by history for the journeys we take, we have all encountered unexpected things along the way.  The tragedy is when we cannot enjoy the unexpected blessings of today because of our intense striving for tomorrow.  In all, Columbus made three more trips trying to find a route to Japan.  The wondrous riches he had discovered just weren’t enough; He couldn’t enjoy what he had found because he had not yet achieved what he had set out to do!

Whatever goals one may have in his life: career, riches, fame- they’re not worth ignoring all the beautiful “stuff” along the way.  As one wise man said, “The best part of a journey is not the destination, but the journey itself.”  Others have encouraged us to, “stop and smell the roses.”  In short, we must be a people who are constantly on the lookout for blessings to appreciate, for if we are too caught up in reaching our goals, we might miss some very special things along the way!

This is a short poem I wrote several years ago.  It reflects upon the conflict between searching after the things that I want vs. seeking the things of God.  I hope you are blessed by it.

Discerning Your Desires

“What do I want?”

Such questions consume my mind.

It’s the determining factor in every decision,

It always chooses the path I will find.

But how does one decide,

How do I ever discern?

When there are so many earthly possessions,

For which my flesh does yearn.

I want to feel a certain way,

I want to do a certain thing.

I want to get the just rewards,

My accomplishments should bring!

Even in my life of faith,

My wants cannot be suppressed,

“Surely the thing which makes me feel right,

Is what the Lord would think is best!”

Yet all the self-indulgence,

Still leaves a deep emptiness.

I get all that I want, I have my way,

Yet I never quite feel at rest!

The answer comes to me so simply, O’ God,

For of self-indulgence my soul quickly tires.

The path which will fulfill me in all things in life,

Is by discerning not mine, but Your desires!

Kerry Williams, 2004