*Left Out in the Cold

While reading Jimmy L.Lyson's poem, entitled 'Left Out in the Cold', I was touched by his deep anxiety, and wanted to sympathize with him for his mental incarceration - and I did. I believe that his inability to say or do what he wanted to do (although he was 'free') makes anyone feel similarly towards him. He admitted that he wanted to "remove the sting" which I thought was a stain of the past, and yet, he" was left out in the cold" - and he could have been. But then, while I was deep floating in his thoughts, I was suddenly struck by his words "...wanting to claim some of God's power and glory". My sympathy had suddenly turned to anger and took his words as if they came out in a state of delusion. I asked myself, 'If he really believes in God's power and glory, why shouldn't he be "brave and bold" to "sing" as he claimed he was?' I was mystified. I reread his poem in order to suck more thoughts from the words. Only then did I realize that Jimmy may have wanted us to see beyond the written words that escorted them. Repeatedly he said, "he has been left out in the cold" to depict the feeling of solitude and lack of human support and reassurance. Although he knows he could "sing and tell stories of God's power and glory" which was a deeper seeking of his soul, what caged him in his fantasy cell to feel this noxious coldness? Why did he fear the less powerful than the omniscient omnipotent God? Strange, isn't it? Could the heat he anticipated from his fellowmen - the empty uproar, the wow's and mundane splendor - have given him the warmth and made him successful? It reminded me of the word of God in Job 9:4 that says, " He is wise in heart and mighty in strength - who has hardened himself against Him, and succeeded?" Could this be the case for many of us to be trapped in our stalls, just as Jimmy when we miss the heat of our surroundings? It's high time we step out in boldness not fearing the passing coldness, putting all our strength in God alone.
I'm shedding tears of pain,
and I'm afraid I'm going to go insane.
I'm feeling sick, tired and old,
like I've been left out in the cold.

I want to be able to sing,
and to completely remove the sting.
I need to be brought back into the fold;
I feel I've been left out in the cold.

I'm having trouble getting to sleep,
just lying here trying not to weep.
I want to be brave and bold,
but I've been left out in the cold.

I've been wanting to tell my story,
and to claim some of God's power and glory;
but it's impossible to grab it and hold,
because I've been left out in the cold.
Jimmy L. Lyons

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