This Island

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