Lord.

You saw it.

You saw the Serpent’s venom pushed into my flesh.

You saw the darkness try to make a temple out of my body.

You saw the enemy’s hand try to claim the light that belongs to You.

I feel it crawling. I feel it whispering. I feel it telling me I am weak.

Weak like the rest of them that already dwell in darkness.

Weak enough to let the darkness consume me, as it did Aranza? She faltered, she fell at the Serpent’s poison. Only once the darkness had finally fled her body, did she taste the light of triumph again.

Weak enough to let my mind falter, as it has Dolly’s? A mind caught between icecream sprinkles and darkened corners of her dollhouse she’d rather keep shut away.

Weak enough to let that darkness control me, as it does Glitter and El Ídolo Perdido? Darkness turning to anger, turning to violence all in the name of pursuing art.

When the brush paints only black, who could look upon the canvas and see beauty? I see weakness. I see the darkness triumph.

They each let the darkness win in their own way. They were weak.

But You did not build me for weakness… You built me for war.

And the darkness shall not overcome me as it has them.

Let it try.

Let it INVADE my bloodstream. Let it ATTACK my soul.

Let the darkness come and discover the power of your light. For where there is light, there can be no darkness.

It cowers before your name.

Let them come.

Those that dwell in the valley of the shadow of death, let them infest me as that needle has. Even now, I feel that darkness trying to spread within me.

So hear me now, O Lord of purifying fire…

If there is darkness in my blood, burn it out.

If there is poison in my veins, boil it away.

What the enemy has planted in me, rip it up by the root.

Search me and find the light within that burns.

If that light within me has been touched by shadow, then blaze even brighter till that shadow cowers. If corruption thinks it can hide in my marrow, then flood me like fire in dry timber.

In the refiner’s fire, I will be cleansed like precious metal to the furnace.

I will not be claimed. I will not be occupied. I will not be overrun.

This body is not a playground for devils. This soul is not vacant property.

At Turbo Violence, you allowed the test, now witness the purification by your flame which begins this week.

And ends at INVASION.

Turn what was meant for my corruption into consecration.

Make me dangerous to darkness.

So when I rise from this trial, let every man who looks to INVADE my soul understand as clearly as the light shines.

The storm The Family tried to place inside me, is the very storm I am about to unleash.

In Your name.

Tempestatem Accipe.

Amen.