Josiah Williams
Renewed Self (Interlude)
The only choice that I make is to follow Him daily
I once bottled my emotions in a bottle of Bailey's
Only wanted the world to get off me
Took a bite of that drug, was climbing Lauryn's Hill
Killing me softly

My mistakes made began before the eighth grade
My dreadlocks swayed in the arrogance of my stained ways
Ignorant
Wild and belligerent
My ashamed days
It wasn't my shape, but my sad state that I maintained

Oblivious

Mom told me that I was inconsiderate
And I couldn't even consider that my innards
Are literally the flesh of a sinner
Nobody asked me to be perfect, they told me to be worth it
Start breaking that ice and come back to the surface
Pulling me out of Hell's circus, and reminding me that I could be living my life with a purpose

Lemme tell you ‘bout my new self
Colossians 3:10

Well, lemme go back
'Cause I’m still me, and He’s still Him, and He was always there
I just covered Him up
Replaced Him with the face of a dozen of Earth’s angels, and placed Him in the Basement
(But, I guess He shoulda been in the attic)
Sorry

Lemme tell you ‘bout my Re-newed self

I now see that I’m a working abstract piece
Of God’s handmade artwork
My body
My spirit
It’s not mine
It all started with an easel that God kept in His solid white Cathedral
Surrounded by the same eagles that watched over my Grandfather
Born and raised in Philly

I will never be a complete piece
But, through Him, I’m as close as I’ll ever be
A red soul, feeling blue, showing signs of an evergreen
Accepted
Respected
Loved
Nurtured

I may not be able to fly, but I know that I’m safe in His wings
Feathers like floating beds of eternal peace
Grace captured and encapsulated me in a soft chapel
And love tackled my sin-riddled battle
Somehow I actually feel like I belong

And I’m me

I’m short, Black, 5’6”, and perfectly imperfect
My imperfections would look good
On a New York Time Square projection
Front and center in 3D on HDTV
Shot in 4K played on Blu-Ray

In reality, I ain’t no different
But the reality is that I’m forgiven