I Have Seen

I'm now coming upon about a year since my husband violently attacked me, me waking up out of co-dependence, and forcing a separation from him through a court-ordered Protection Order.  

It was the thing of nightmares for me.  

However, in the awakening - in the honest look and admittance of the truth of my life and the masterfully manipulating abuser I was married to, there were other things I've seen that I want to document.

The Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible actually resonates at an entire different level to me now... the listings of what he has observed.  Likewise, I have seen many things with fresh eyes over the past year, and I'd love to share a few of those with you.

I have seen...

I have seen ears - shut

I have seen eyes - blinded

I have seen the compassionate become the oppressed

I have seen love abused

I have seen institutions crumble from the cancer they bred

I have seen scriptures twisted to fit needs

I have seen whole families suffer at the hands of a trusted one 

I have seen otherwise good men adopt lies 

I have seen evil slither through a community like a serpent on the hunt - consuming

I have seen perversion quietly put aside - too appalling for leaders to address

I have seen entrusted men intoxicate themselves with the control it gives
I have seen true ugliness from those the community looks to for beauty

I have seen once meaningful friends betray the sacredness of the mothers' circle of trust

I have seen friends twist trust into lies and aim to injure

I have seen the gossip confronted and cry out in anger 

    - only to evolve more cruel than before
I have seen wicked men speak with such effluence, even Shakespeare himself would be wooed 

I have seen evil shed innocent blood without a hint of remorse - only great satisfaction

I have seen wickedness actively recruit the complacent and non discerning

I have seen insurmountable armies mount up from every side and engage the innocent - 

    - with one aim - to destroy

I have seen bullies in every shape, size, age, gender, and race fight each other for ranking

I have seen the influence the wicked have over the weak

I have seen systems intended to help the needy- exploited

I have seen children made fatherless

I have seen fear root itself deeply into the hearts of people

I have seen darkness overcome the Light

I have seen betrayal

I have seen thieves prosper

I have seen criminals lauded and idolized

I have seen the waves of the high tide destroy 

... and cleanse ...

... I know for certain, the high tide will not last forever...

I have seen blind eyes - SEE

I have seen deaf ears - HEAR

I have seen paths made where there were none before

I have seen rest given to the pure in heart

I have seen love stand in the face of fear
I have seen the value of true friendship

I have seen the sunrise in the darkest of seasons

I have seen the very miracle that was begged for - found in the querier themselves

I have seen as never before - the love of sisters

I have seen the oppressed in unexplainable peace and joy - despite pain
I have seen beauty in the broken

I have seen the wounded tended to and cared for by the unexpected

I have seen honesty in deep pain bring healing

...I have seen the very tide that destroys, the very wave that comes as a destructive squall

      - suddenly come to a complete stop.  Peace