Beating Heart

I sing to be victorious, 

to be shielded from my misery.

When I call out, oh God of righteousness, 

when the world narrows and constrains,

You answer by widening my consciousness.

By Your grace, I understand my plea. 

To those who claim good education, 

high social status, an enlightened mind,

how long will you allow your self-deception 

and love of the ephemeral

to justify your false perception? 

How long will my honor be maligned?

Know this well and draw it near 

to the very essence of your being,

only those devoted, not the cavalier, 

are set apart, but not rejected.

To God they call, and He will hear. 

They recognize truth even without seeing.

Be afraid! Let this idea overpower 

any inclination to be less, 

to choose a way that leads to error. 

Let this notion be a beating heart,

a bed upon which you recover, 

a stillness amidst a tempest.

Only then will the sacrifices you make 

be not burned complete without impact.

Rather, in them you will share a stake. 

Trust, though, in God since you may not see

the consequences of what you undertake – 

the justice that your deeds enact.

Many retort, “If what you say is surely true - 

that God loves the devout and not the noble

and that the good’s not in plain view, 

then wouldn’t there be some sort of sign?”

With a smirk, you hear them argue, 

“Cannot God illuminate the doubtful?”

Though they smile, I am the blissful one;

my joy greater than from material possession.

While all around they see distraction, 

I lie down with peace of mind.

For You, God, have given me protection 

through knowledge of Your affection.