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Polarity

by Terry Stokes

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1.
I've known only your hegemony, my dear Preferred your face, been in your spaces it's clear- I can only choose within what I can see You convinced me your bias was neutrality I'm falling out of love with you Now I've looked at the world with a different lens New systems, narratives, new means, and new ends Self-love says I don't have to keep switching code My loves reordered, now I walk a new road New space, new culture, new capital My love is now inhabitable New space, new cultural capital My love is now inhabitable
2.
Grew up between two worlds No permanent residence Doing everything but me Always moving with hesitance I was hedging my bets Wasn't chasing my dreams From those lesser loves I have been redeemed For the first time I feel like I'm making sense of everything that's gone before I finally found the right open door I'm right where I need to be I'm doing what I need to do Now I feel grounded I'm blossoming Stretched out to the sun The light's not lost on me I feel empowered You threw my life in gear This is my hour Your love has cast out fear
3.
Oh with bated breath creation groans Lead us to our destined throne The Eschaton is ours to own Free now from shadows and from broken things The true image is dazzling I am your queen, you are my king I am rhythm, you are melody I am evening, you are morning You are dream and I am memory We are beautiful polarity Oh corruption is now far behind Glorious bodies, perfect minds The dawn of our awaited time Oh through many hands the gift has come You make me wise where I am young You saved me from being undone Now morning is at hand The Great Game, the Great Dance
4.
We elect to intersect- walk with me The word becomes flesh in us; embodied Forging reality's mystery The dance of law and love: community Waking up in His arms, growing older by His side Exploring the way of things, co-creator of new life I am not if not for You Without the Other I have no Self Revealed to me relationally Wedded to me in sickness and in health In Your love You gave me choice It was my choice to respond in love In that love I enter eternity The forbidden fruit put forth a seed To reap a harvest of love in me Now the nations eat New Life from the tree
5.
The Siege 05:14
The siege of our world is almost over The devil's hold is slipping fast The battle cries now break the silence Our taste of victory becomes a feast at last The heavens open, they invite us back in Our atmosphere clears to unveil the light Our cosmic narrative has reached its climax The end inaugurated but not yet arrived We welcome death, 'cause in our dying We're giving way to vitality Eternal noon, unyielding springtime We ride this tributary into the ocean of reality The angels long to look into that which is our dominion Continuing creation, entering the Father's rest The earth was formless and empty, our work is order and beauty Under the siege it was futile, but now our labor is blessed
6.
How long will you turn away from me? Feels like forever that you've been angry If only I could present my case If only we could speak face to face I beckon You to come; make haste O Lord Will you return to me? Will you revive me again? That I may rejoice in You Show us Your faithful love And give us Your salvation Let favor rest upon our land Surely Lord, You will speak peace over us Truth springs up from the earth The harvest you increase for us Extend your scepter so I may speak Listen though my words are weak The earth will be the prize of the meek O Lord
7.
I can’t make much of my situation, but I make much of You I look back on who You’ve been for me and what You’ve brought me through Reach down deep, give me a heart of flesh I might not have answers, but in You I have rest I’m empty now Won’t You show me how To give You my heart Take me to where You are I’m sure about You but with everything else I’m on the fence I know who You are but nothing else makes sense So I’m gonna wrestle with You until I get a word In You I've got a voice, and in You I’m heard Strengthen my tired hands, be foundation to stand Heal up my broken knees, make straight paths for my feet I’m lame, I’m dislocated, my plans are all frustrated You and I need to meet My heart was not perfect, but I was far from heartless, I come to You with a broken spirit regardless. You won’t despise that- no, You're always beckoning I come just as I am, it’s time for reckoning
8.
I didn't get to say goodbye when your work was done Give you deepest gratitude from your daughter's son I'm standing on your shoulders, 'cause you paved the way I don't know life without you; it's a heavy day The world is more beautiful than I'll ever know And more terrible than I'll ever know Pulled in both directions, it won't let me go This is where we live, in the to & fro The grief will never fully leave; it's a part of me Joy and pain filter the light, it's how I see Lifted by life's beauty, crushed by futility True and false reflections of humanity The horror of death is real The hope of life greater still Our resurrection revealed The ash will give way to oil Powers of darkness are foiled We're taking root in new soil
9.
Insecurities 04:18
I am not strong enough Not fit to win your love You can't see me that way I'm a friend for a rainy day These are my insecurities I need a place to put my needs- A room with walled transparency You came and gave this guarantee: I am a safe space For the fears you can't abide I am the light In the darkness where you try to hide You feel like damaged goods My love sees purity I'm a secure place For your insecurities It's not what I would choose I've got so much to lose If I ask you to bear Burdens I'm scared to share
10.
From the ends of the earth we call, we shout, we faint Under the shelter of Your wings hide Your saints For You, O God, have seen us live our vows So let us join the throng around You now The Lord is a strong tower And a fortress for the weak and weary As we run into Your gates You welcome us into Your sanctuary I have no right to eat even the crumbs under Your table But still I will come Because Your grace has opened up a way Into Your fortress where I know I'm safe In the New Jerusalem fear has left the hearts of men His Kingdom will know no end The Son of Man is enthroned Where the daughters of men find a home We're fully loved, fully known
11.
Being beside ourselves Moving beyond ourselves You lifted me so high I can't believe we fell Still flesh of my flesh You lead me to my dream Already underway I see redemption's gleam No veil exists between us Exposed and unashamed You trust I won't abuse you We write each other's names You're dignified and wild I'm glorified within unbroken understanding Between women and men I was supposed to speak To make a world with words Silent, my will was weak And emptiness incurred Now fear and shame emerge I've not felt these before Still in me is the urge To claim that I am yours I isolate myself Give up on being known Covered in leaves and hides To hide my dying bones I know you won't mistreat me When I am unconcealed In trust we come together This bond, this love is real

about

All songs except "Community" written by TJ Stokes
"Community" written by TJ Stokes and Aaron McGinnis

Vocals, guitars, bass, keys, & drums by TJ Stokes
Mixed by TJ Stokes
Strings on "Women & Men" arranged by TJ Stokes
Recorded at Trinity Pres., Charlottesville, VA

credits

released May 13, 2017

Thanks to my co-creators:

Hunter Sheldon Photography

Aaron McGinnis: vocals on "Falling Out of Love", "Community", & "Empty"
Cecilia Glenn: vocals on "The Siege", "Empty", "Insecurities", and "Women & Men"
Julia Hiser: vocals on "Polarity" and "Favor"
Micah Iverson: vocals on "The Siege" and "Women & Men"
Valencia Harvey: vocals on "Sanctuary"
Sarah Lapp: violin & viola on "Women & Men"
Nick Rupert: cello on "Women & Men"

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Terry Stokes Charlottesville, Virginia

Songwriter & Producer

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