A Youth Retreat Reflection

A couple weeks ago one of our students who attended the youth retreat shared a poem they had written during our solo time. The setting was beautiful; a cloudless day with warm sunshine blanketing a cool, sandy beach. The waters of the Gulf stretching out as far as one can see, and the beach dotted with students reflecting on God the creator, the one who loves them. It is always one of the highlights of my year as there are regularly conversations about how this time is one of the most meaningful for students and adults alike. In this case, the beauty of the setting and the wonder of God’s love produced a response which is in many ways like the Psalms, a response of gratitude and worship for a God whose love is unmatched, even by the beauty of His creation.

Camille’s Poem
O Lord, more powerful than the ocean.
You calm the waters of my heart.
You stop the tide of the deadly sea. 
You harness the waves of my emotions. 
You blow away fear with your loud breaths of wind. 
For to the earth and all the stars you are king.
Conqueror of the war for power.
For even the unbridled sea will kneel to your requests.
The storms will roll back for Your light to shine.
There is no limit to your love.
There is no ocean deep enough to hide from you.
There is no galaxy for unnamed stars.
For you give meaning and importance to everything, and everything will kneel and sing to You, the king of the stars, the king of all.
I will hum to the ocean of your mercy and the ocean will hum to me of your love.
There is no grain of sand you haven’t counted, there is no shell you haven’t designed.
For everything visible and not, and for everything comprehensible or not, you have created and will reign over forever and ever.
I see the way the clouds bend for you, and I see the palette you have painted.
I give my life to you, the artist of it all.
Paint me with your love and mercy so I can admire your creation, that all may admire the king of kings and the father of every child.
I shall worship you with the shells and stars forever. 
I love you and rejoice in you.

~~Camille Wyatt