When Silence killed Striving

When Silence killed Striving

by Joel Howard

Quiet before kings

Not loud in crowds

Gentle, whispering

Never calling out loud

Not trusting men

Or their heart within

Jesus defeated

Striving with silence

Martyrs all over history

And here and now

Have one common secret

One: How they bow

Down when all else

Raise their heads high

Willing to suffer

Willing to die

Like autumn's leaves who

Never claim

Evergreen's wisdom

Christmas tree's fame

"I am just yellow

Or brown or red,"

So they fall swiftly

So they fall dead

May I like Jesus

May I like them

Relinquish control

Freely instead

of having to fight for

My place in the ring

Pleased with my boundaries

Like in Psalm 16

"What pleasant limits!"

O may I shout

"Richness in favor!"

When I'm left out

Turning my other cheek

When I am hit

Blessing persecutors

When they at me spit

Here in the secret

Here in my heart

Not in the doing

Jesus, you are

Healer of every

Heart that's bowed low

Hidden our journey

Yet far we will go

Silence kills striving

Friend, now you know!