Author Archives: Justin Farley

Holy Justice – Poem About the Death Penalty and Prison

Posted on by under Poetry, Spirituality

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Holy Justice

I heard his sobs
as they walked him down the row,
heard the shackles jingle,
the whispers of people waiting for the show.

I watched in horror
as they strapped him to the chair…
the pleading and screaming
still repeats in my head like a nightmare.

I retched at the smell
of burning flesh,
saw the lights stop flickering
and questioned the meaning of justice.

Guilty and deserving
of death? Yes.
But each and every one of us
everyday transgress.

If I live with Love,
how do I advocate death?
How do I share God’s light
while stealing another’s breath?

They’ve forfeited the right
to live life free,
but they’re still God’s children,
deserving of love and mercy.

God’s love extends
to the darkest of places.
And redemption is always possible
even in the most hopeless cases.

Poem Written by Justin Farley

You can find some of my other Christian poems by clicking here

Poem About Being Human, Making Mistakes, and Growing Old

Posted on by under Poetry

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We’re Only Human

The older we get
the less certain we are of absolutes.
But one thing we’re absolutely certain of
is our flawed, human nature.
When we’re children we yearn
for the day we’ll have all the answers,
when we’ll no longer feel scared or vulnerable,
and when we’ll stop making stupid mistakes.
Until we grow old and realize
that’s what it means to be human.

Poem Written by Justin Farley

You can find some of my other poetry by clicking here 

Poem About Intimacy with God

Posted on by under Poetry, Spirituality

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Intimacy With God

Speaking in the silence,
waiting in the midst of contemplation,
listening on the other line of prayer
awaits the answer
to the relentless yearning of the human heart.
Do not come seeking secret knowledge.
Do not expect divine visions,
to become enlightened,
or to transcend physical reality.
But come to the silence
simply desiring and longing for
intimacy with the Divine,
experiencing God’s love and mercy directly,
which we, in turn, share with the world.

Poem Written by Justin Farley

You can find some of my other Christian poems by clicking here

Losing Myself Poem About Mental Illness and Recovery

Posted on by under Mental Health, Poetry, Recovery

Losing Myself

I’m losing myself in pieces –
every year fragments of my soul
feel swept away by time.

My identity constantly decreases,
and I’m beginning to feel like a stranger
within the confines of my own mind.

Yes, I’m losing myself in pieces –
the jigsaw puzzle’s lovely image
has jumbled into an abstract mess.

But my search for meaning never ceases.
I continue holding the lantern,
calling out to myself in the darkness.

I’m searching for the lost pieces –
putting myself back together
one discovery at a time.

With faith, hope increases,
and despite being far from perfect,
I’m able to begin recovery’s climb.

-Poem Written by Justin Farley

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Poem about Wrestling with God and Accepting God’s Will

Posted on by under Poetry, Spirituality

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Tug O’ War

Engaged in a constant game
of tug o’ war between your will and mine.
Sweating out the hours.
Eking out the days,
muscles bulging in desperate exhaustion,
clinging to dust.

Why do I wrestle with you?
Why does my foolish heart
still insist it knows better
despite a lifelong record of defeat?

Because I’m a sinner,
flawed at the deepest depths of my core.
But despite my imperfection
you lovingly continue to play the game
even though you could pull my will
right out of my hands at any moment you choose.

And yet you don’t let go of the rope either.
You patiently keep tugging at my heart
until the day I willingly choose
to let go of my will
and take a hold of yours.

-Poem Written by Justin Farley

Poem About Addiction to Drugs Alcohol and Recovery

Posted on by under Addiction, Poetry, Recovery

Starting Today

If resisting was an easy task,
who would be a slave?
Who would part with a piece of themselves
for the chance at an early grave?
Willpower alone is enough to put you in hell
but not enough to pull you out.
You’ll never have a chance at getting well
until you accept living by a different route.
If change is what you want,
you’ll have to change much about you.
You’ll have to learn to become humble
and do what trusted advisers tell you to do.
The road is long and hard
but worth every step of the way
because you have the opportunity
to be free again starting today.

-Poem Written by Justin Farley

Poem about Books, Magic, and Magical Places

Posted on by under Poetry

Magic

I’ve experienced magic.
I’ve witnessed countless spells
and drank the words of a thousand potions.

Been teleported to different countries and worlds,
explored to the end of the universe,
have dug to the center of Earth,
and have even traveled through time.

I’ve ridden horses through ancient forests,
stormed and conquered a fortress,
and have warmed my bones beside the fire
in the depths of castle walls.

I’ve captained a pirates’ ship,
worn a pistol on my hip,
and plundered enough treasure
to awe even the richest of men.

I know what it’s like to look up at a T-Rex.
I’ve felt the heat of a dragon’s breath.
And on the rare occasion,
I’ve even gazed upon the beauty of a unicorn.

Yes, I’ve experienced magic.
And still get swept away by its incantations
because I possess the power to read.

-Poem Written by Justin Farley

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King

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Poem about Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder

Posted on by under Mental Health, Poetry

Wavering Emotions

What pulls me out of bed in the morning?
What lies beyond the break of day?
Some days find me bouncing to work,
others a struggle to summon the energy to play.

How do I slay this elusive dragon
that renders me depressed and without drive?
My heart longs and desires to flourish,
but my mind is merely trying to survive.

There’s scenes of prosperity
but always followed by a pauper’s act.
My heart always seems to know where it’s going,
but my mind constantly derails me off the tracks.

How do I muzzle the black dog’s barking?
How do I train him to submit by my side?
Some days find me rejoicing at life’s invitation,
others a constant desire to lock my doors and hide.

-Poem Written by Justin Farley

Poem About Babies and Parenthood

Posted on by under Poetry

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Parental Love

Days spent thinking about
all the things I want to teach you
all the things I can’t wait to show you
but for now it’s fishing for your smiles
like twinkling stars in my sky
that I want to catch
and hold in my pocket forever.
How can something so small, so innocent, so powerless
simultaneously possess the power
to suspend time in a parent’s world?

-Poem Written by Justin Farley

Poem About Peace, Love, and Faith

Posted on by under Poetry, Spirituality

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You Will Find

You will find peace
when nothing but this moment matters…
when you forgive yourself and others for the past
and stop obsessing over the worries of tomorrow.

You will find contentment
when you seek communion with the divine…
when the eternal fire of truth burns brighter
than wealth, social status, or material possessions.

You will find love
when you become loving…
when you live outside yourself
and believe there’s worse things than a broken heart.

You will find joy
when you purposefully seek it…
when you silence your complaints
and paint your gratitude upon each morning.

And you will find faith
when you dare to dream again…
when you see the world with your heart
and witness the pulsating beauty of possibility all around you.

-Poem Written by Justin Farley