Arthur Ayotte presents two spoken-word pieces: one explores shame and hidden faults through metaphor, while the other delivers a faith-centered sermon calling for repentance and spiritual renewal. The contrast frames the year's beginning and end.
I was told a closet is a place to hold clothing, a place to put your shoes and maybe the pants you left unfolded. But mine is full of skeletons, and ones I would rather leave unspoken. See, we all make mistakes, but for some reason our own feels like the only one that's about to break loose, piling up like insecurities we try to keep shut in In the closet, they tell me our sins can be separated as far as the east is to the west, but this mess stretches from one eternity to the other, and I don't see why a creator would fold the laundry I keep shoving to the side. But I guess the one who created the closet has the right to what's inside.
We all want to be somebody. Teens with more ambitions than a fire racing through the wilderness who don't want to miss the chance of being worthy of remembrance. And so we chase vanity as if beauty can bring that dream into reality. We chase fitting in as if perfect cutouts can somehow stand out and be remembered for being just like everyone else. But Christ didn't die a brutal death with nails piercing the seams of his wrists and feet so we can treat life like a personal party. Devouring our own selfish desires, walking all over his commands and saying they were only for the people of old, the old promised land. But no, I believe in the New Testament when he said, if you love me, you keep my commandments. I believe he meant it, not just for the people of old, but he spoke through time. Christ is not confined by this rough timeline. No, he spoke through time. He created all things, both you and I. He sculpted our very souls. He sees our flaws and our perfections. They look perfect Perfect in his eyes because he doesn't see man's outer appearance. He sees the heart. He sees how you fall apart from within when you let the sin rise too high. You can barely breathe. So just breathe him in and take every word and every thought captive. Walk it to the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, who sits on his throne alone. He can rid you of your vanity and your hollow ambitions and the things that will never fill the void.
Amen.
And if you don't trust me, then test the word he wrote for you. Build a relationship with Christ and speak to him, and in his time he'll speak to you. My life is proof, because even when I didn't stay, he's the only one that did. I found him with open arms. So while you still have air to breathe, fall in love with the one that means you no harm, only love.
I'm sorry.
And the next time you're lost, don't look down, don't look around, because what you're searching for comes from above. And he has found you. Behold, he is making all things new. Amen.
