Training Our Affections

This is a bit more like a poemy-short-story. If you’re wanting your appetite to be changed, this is for you.

Consider contemplating while you read: “How is God changing my appetite in the natural, emotional, mental, or spiritual?” and/or “What am I craving in this chapter?”

Root and Marrow Farm

Training our affections

“I like this 

I like that 

I’m like this 

I’m like that

Confidence! Yes!”

Then it dawned on me that I’ve spent so much time

naming and claiming 

picking and wishing.

Grappling to find a sense of self.

Here on this canvas of life

I see that You’re training my affections

Constantly giving me new colors 

new mixtures to try

Hoping, to finally catch my eye

To say:

This is the way for you, my dear

Walk in it.

This is what you were created for.

This is you. 

Give it a try! 

Does that fit? 

Now, you see it does.

Try it on again.

“What? 

That’s not me!

That doesn’t fit into my boxes!”

What boxes? 

Ohhh… where did they…

Go?

Go! 

Try a new territory

A new land! 

Jet set

Ready set go!

I like fruit

The family likes chocolate

My older siblings ask me if I’m adopted.

Now, chocolate is setting in fine.

Maybe my pallet is being refined? 

Fruit or chocolate?

Why not AND?!

Right when I think I’ve got something pinned down

Something figured

Something really inspired in the brain

There’s a change up

Not to say that there’s no concept

Of up

But what I’m realizing here and now 

Is

He’s training my affection again

Making me into what I really, truly am

Maybe I really don’t have quite a concept of that 

at all. 

So now 

I throw my hands up 

I say, take the lead 

I’ll follow 

I didn’t really like trying to figure out the steps to the dance 

by myself

Anyway. 

Thanks for training my affection 

I’ll take Your hand 

And dance with You

Right over this threshold

I see now that You in the lead 

is much better 

More fluid

More fun 

I’m captivated and can’t argue 

With You any longer 

Whatever I thought I knew 

Doesn’t matter 

The dance is so enthralling 

All encompassing 

There’s no room

For distraction 

I forgot what I thought I knew 

The assumptions 

Don’t even matter 

The cloud we’re on now 

You and I 

Is fantastic

Forget when and where

Or even the “how”

We’ll get where we’re going 

By dance 

through thin air

Without nary a care

You train our affections 

Right onto this floor

Don’t need no steps prepared  

here

It’s all improv 

I’m sure

Freedom is fun

And courage is required 

But after you take My hand

Let go and enjoy! 

Self-expression is a must

Because none of the moves 

are permanent 

Let it fly!

It will be funny

People will enjoy

Draw them in

Make eye contact 

Honor them 

In the dance 

That’s the cure 

None of the moves really matter later

Just make sure you keep your eyes on Me 

And savor the flavor 

Sing harmony! 

Really, be free

Shake it off

It’s You and me

You’ve trained our affection 

Right down to the core

When the masks and costumes 

Fall off

It’s really sweet and pure 

I’m finally feeling sure

That You’ve orchestrated all of this 

To give me a masters in

Pleasures Galore.