etcetera:

by Noah Bartley

When fear of future
or regret of past
severs me from the present;

When anxiety wrings 
my writhing heart
of every ounce of peace;

When "God's will" becomes
an idol, and I seek 
his Kingdom second;

It is in there —
   in here —
that the Spirit swings wide

the door of Christ's heart:
   "Love your God.
     Love your neighbor."

Here is our Northern Star,
our great stabilizer,
our sole purpose.

The command and call to love
knows no seasons,
for love is...

      Evergreen

Noah Bartley is a poet who desires to showcase the wonder and glory of God through the medium of words. He lives in Chattanooga,TN with his wife Haley, their daughter Lucy, and their dog Ridge. You can find more of his work at this substack “Woes and Wonders.” https://noahbartley.substack.com/