An Introduction
Words Preceding Another Anthology of Poetry
The realization that we are merely human is an affront to our very nature. We humans, and teenagers especially (I write these words while still a member of that youthful group), love to believe that we are immortal and that we run every aspect of our lives. It is the cause of much shock and sorrow when eventually, events turn in such a way that we realize that alas, these fantasies are false. What happens then is always key for at that moment a soul can be estranged from God for decades longer than need be or it can cling to His side and never wish to depart.
Events conspired so that I ended up with the latter. Through growing up, through realizing my imperfections (of which there are many), through realizing how very much I was human insignificant, petty and easily forgotten dust, through these I found I needed my Maker more than anything else. Not to say that my life was immediately in perfect peace, without a temptation or struggle. Quite the contrary, except with the important difference that I now was fully aware of the terrific power that shielded me from a terrible power: not Satan alone, but to a certain extent: myself. As is written in Romans 7:19-23: "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members."
I needed a release somewhere to reflect upon my experiences, to pen them into words so as to more fully understand them. And I found such a release in this poetry. Perhaps I ought say that the poetry found me and released me I am not entirely sure of what happened when one of these poems was written. Regardless, I found upon reading what it was my fingers had typed, I saw therein truths that I could not have expressed in any other way. These truths, as I glance back at them on the page and also within my heart, continue to support and guide me along the Path that Our Lord has set forth for me to follow. I hope and pray and ask for your prayers as well that I may continue to do His Will.
Humbly,
Dominik Rabiej
December 24, 2001
Mattawan, Michigan, USA
Dedication
This anthology of poetry is dedicated to Roman and Ewa Rabiej, my dearly beloved parents who have shown me the very definition of limitless love. Without them, I would not be. I offer them my love and gratitude now and always.
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