I wrote this poem while on a summer missions trip with Campus Crusade to Mexico City in 2003. About two weeks in to the trip, almost our entire team got sick. It was just me and one other person that was able to travel to the campus of UNAM for a few days. We decided to split up when we got to the campus and just try to meet some students and share the gospel.
So here I am on campus, with most of our team sick and bed ridden. I walk up to a group of students kicking a soccer ball around, I ask them in broken Spanish if they would be interested in practicing some English. They said no thanks, so I asked them if they knew anyone that would be interested. They pointed to a random student that appeared to be doing some studying. I walked over to him and introduced myself and asked if he would like to practice his English. He said sure and introduced himself. He introduced himself as David and I began to share the gospel with him. Before I could finish, David had to leave for class. As he left, we both expressed hope to meet up again. Later that day, I got really sick and was out of commission for a week or so. I wondered if I would ever see David again as UNAM is the largest University in Latin America.
After finally recovering, I went back to UNAM and I ran across David again. We continued to meet to practice English and learn about God. I had learned that he was already a Christian and he invited me and some of our team to his families house for dinner.
Towards the end of the missions trip, me and a few others on our team took the train to meet David's family. When we arrived to his home, his mother opened the door and the house smelled like a huge Mexican feast was about to occur. When I introduced myself to David's mom, she gave me the biggest hug I've ever received. Through our translator, I learned that after sharing the gospel with David, he went home later that night and prayed to receive Christ in to his life. This had been something his mother had been praying about for David for years. We had a great celebration with David's family. It was truly a momentous occasion that brought great perspective on what was most important in life.
That perspective though, is so easy to lose sight of amid all the distractions. This poem was written as if speaking to the devil himself. Asking him to stay away in hopes that I can keep a proper perspective. I don't want to miss out on moments like the summer of 2003, when I had the privilege of meeting David Francisco Perez Salazar and his family.
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| Gustave Doré, illustration to Paradise Lost |
Stay Away
You and your clouds of gray
They made me sad
They give no relief
The rain causes drought
You suspend my belief
Your fog is thick
It blinds my eyes
I can’t see ahead
I can’t see past your lies
I see a flower
Its beautiful bloom
The flower is death
The flower is doom
Stay away
You and your ways of decay
This life looks good
Material things feel nice
These pleasures put
My soul in a vice
Tighter and tighter
It continues to squeeze
I beg you for mercy
But there is no ease
I see a garden
With all I could gain
The garden is misery
The garden is pain
Go away
Please go away
These wants aren't my wants
These needs aren't my needs
You manipulate my feelings
You with your deeds
Live for the now
This is your dream
That I forget
That I am redeemed
I see a city
Of prosperous earning
The city is on fire
The city is burning
So again I say
Go away
The fog is thick
But the light is bright
With a dose of truth
I see past my plight
I see the flower
And what it will be
I turn away
From the flower I flee
I see the garden
Its beauty a facade
I turn from its gaze
And turn towards God
I see the city
Hope I will bring
They will turn from you
And your vile things
It’s not what you want
You never wanted me to give
But I found the true hope
So my soul will live
For my hope is eternal
And I've counted the cost
I have found true love
From the abundance of the cross
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