This poem is dedicated to 2 special friends who believed me and welcomed me and started me on the path off the island.
I’m out here on this island
In the middle of nowhere
I’ve been here for awhile
And it feels like I’m the only one
who’s ever been stranded here
I wonder if anyone else
has felt the pain
The loneliness
The isolation
The confusion
That I feel so intensely on this island
I wish that I could be rescued
And be taken to safety
To someplace where
I’m known and loved
A place of truth and friends
A place of hope and joy
But no one comes for me
Boats pass by the island
Planes fly over it
People can see it…I think…
Yet somehow they don’t really believe
this island exists
And they most definitely
can’t see me
Alone here
Burnt up
Thirsty
Disoriented
Hopeless
And stuck here on this island
They don’t see this island
Because they don’t WANT to see this island
Because it would mess up
their idea of paradise
So, it’s better to simply
Pretend it doesn’t exist
The problem with that is
They’re pretending I don’t exist
I try to wave to them
To get their attention
To show them I’m here
To tell them this is real
To try and get some help
Because I really need them!
They give a quick glance my way
And I have a moment of hope
But then they turn away from me
Because…
This island doesn’t exist, remember?
Or if it does exist
I must have put myself here
So, it’s what I deserve
Yeah, that’s it
As if I wanted this
As if I wanted to be stranded
Separated
Alone and afraid
Without direction
And no way out
No one to reach out to
Exposed to the elements
And getting weaker by the day
But I didn’t put myself on this island
The truth is
Someone dropped me off here
And left me for dead
And they ain’t coming back
They were supposed to protect me
But they betrayed me instead
But no one wants to hear about that…
It’s when I’m about done
Ready to lay down and give up
That’s when I see someone walking toward me
Only they look a little stronger
And less thirsty than I am
And they smile more than I do
Maybe they will help me?
I blink my tired eyes
I recognize her
It’s my friend!
I haven’t seen her in so long
She says she was once stuck here too
But she found a way off the island
And she will tell me all about it
She will help me
Because she believes me
The person who rescued her was The One
While others looked away
Or drove off in their boat
The One stayed
The One brought comfort for the pain
The One brought peace to overcome the fear
The One brought living water to quench the thirst
The One brought friendship to overcome
the loneliness and rejection
The One brought rest for the exhaustion
The One brought her home
Not the home she once knew
But someplace she had never known
Someplace peaceful
Where she is fully seen and fully known and
fully loved
It’s where she should have always been
It’s where I should have always been
And where I want to be now
more than anything else
I ask how long it will take
“A long time”
My friend tells me
I don’t like that answer
But at least I know
I’m not the only one who’s been stuck
on this island
and I know I will make it home
The One will recue me and bring me back
And I will wait for Him