That Day Not Long Ago (Matt. 9:1-8)

That day, not long ago
     When he perused my list
          Of hundred things
                I like to do
                     Before I died –

The list I’d made on impulse
     When the diagnosis
          Of my health
              Came – negative
                  (Though “positive” they
                         Say when
                              Cancer cell
                                    Is found) –

The concept? One I’d
     Borrowed from my niece
          Whose English teacher
               Asked them to construct
                    Such “Bucket Lists” –
                         And hers I do recall –

Said, “Eat container
     Of some chocolate
          Ice cream –
               Me –
                    All by myself” –

I’d laughed,
     And bought her such
          A thing to start
               Her off –

And so with him –
     When he perused my list –
          He said,
               While pointing to
                    An item
                        On my list –

“This – I’ll hire you
      To do this within
           My company –

And like that
      Bucket I had bought
           For her that day
                I read her list,
                    Was all I needed
                          To move on
                                From diagnosis
                                     Day,
                                          On into
                                                Life.

So long it’s been –
     Since that
          Small, halting,
               Step.

So long it’s been –
     As cancer’s
          Inner terror
               Ebbed away –

So long it’s been –
     And yet as I look back
          It’s been a lark,
               As I’ve been given
                    Space to help them
                         Out –

Such range of folks –
     As each got on with life,
          And poured their varied
                Blessings
                     Into lives
                          Of those
                               Around –

And now again –
     Another’s tears
          Erupt,
               While focus comes,
                    And he perceives
                         His place
                             Amongst
                                  The stars –

“I had not known –
     Nor could I fathom
          God’s almighty hand
               As He has led
                    Me all this time
                         To here –
                              And now”.

Almighty God,
     You gave Your son to us
          That we might benefit
               From blessings
                    You had poured –
                         Out on your Chosen People,
                              That all other nations
                                  (That is us)
                                        Would be,
                                              Through them,
                                                    Indeed
                                                         So richly blessed.

“So, here we are, O Lord,
      Your people –
           Motley group indeed,
                But helped along
                     By others
                          You have moved
                               To move –

Into our very
     Stopped-up lives,
          And help us
               Live again,
                   With words
                         Like –

“Rise –
      Rise up
           And enter
                 Into life –
                      Your sins – and weight
                           Which held you down –
                                 Are gone –
                                      And you are free
                                           To start again –
                                                Fulfilled indeed
                                                     By Him
                                                         Today –

Rise up –
     Rise up, my friend,
          And walk”.

Thanks, son.

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