“Charley”

Our “sustain-ance” – our daily bread,
Comes indirectly to our heads;
Not every time, I’m sure of that,
But in that word I heard Him act.

Lord, thanks for that – that laughing girl
Was also fed within her whirl,
As I was fed in last night’s need
With daily bread on which all feed.

He started out quite quietly;
Within his words I heard, “For me –
This was designed, whoever else
Would be sustained” – not off the shelf.

And so it was – spoke to my heart
With steadiness, right from the start –
“We needst sustain; just hold the course;
For all is well” – I was resourced.

The details fade – tough time right now;
It’s twenty years since You allowed
Those folks to have their way with me;
You said, “Show up – but silent be.”

I was; they did; thought they were smart;
I heard which one had been the start
(Head push, sustainer of the fight);
Tough time that was – I felt last night.

For we get tough when tough the task,
But when that’s done, there’s peace at last;
You soften hearts, say, “It’s okay”;
(Sustains us now on tougher day).

As I stand back I hear You, Lord,
“Be careful, Stu,” heard in Your word,
“You don’t crust up, but open stay
In toughening times along My way –

“For if you do, you’ll be alright;
It’s not for long – just like the night
When tears are there, as in the Psalm –
Joy comes at length, as comes the dawn.”

Lord, thanks for Your sustaining word;
And channel used through which I heard,
“It’s not the shiny kettle that
I use sometimes – but kettle black –

“Black from its steady use for Me;
Black from its constant use; you see
My kids need food for days ahead
When hell breaks loose – when you’re long dead.

“But Charlie knows in My Spirit, Stu,
Has way with kids – as I with you
When you were young and way was tough;
I feed ahead – for roads get rough.

“ ‘Make straight and level yonder road’;
Attend each task to ease each load;
Attend as ‘baritone’ in song
As ‘filler notes’– alone sound wrong –

“But in respective harmonies
The whole is balanced – unity
Is not in ‘part’ of body life,
But in its wholeness all sounds right.

“So, hang in, Stu, it’s all okay;
The parts you give of what I say
To Brandon folks (despite the pain
Which you went through) – they’ll blend again.”

Thanks Lord for this.

Navigation