I hesitated to write the following post. The main goal of this blog is to entertain people, offer them joy, and give a glimpse of the world abroad. Most of the writings you find here are lighthearted and tell tales of travels.
What follows wanders slightly from the intended path. What follows shows the dark and light of what I do. I rarely write poetry or stories about my work as a paramedic. But my work life, travel life, personal life, and Christianity are actually all one. The overflow of these things produces my poetry. And though what follows may start in darkness, I promise it ends in light. I promise it ends in Hope.
He Prays at the Feet of a Dead Man
One moment standing, drawing breath
Heart pounding unaware of
Death
At the door
Breath
No more
-Our Father, who art in heaven-
Help is coming- “soon” is an eternity
But the caring-ones come
Hastily
They fight
Skillfully
For life
-Hallowed be thy name-
Yet, despite hopeful care
Death smiles
That Evil smile
And we despair
Battle done
No more trial
Death has won
-Thy kingdom come-
Mourning tears stain cheeks
Streaks down makeup
Of mothers
Of wives
Now alone
Family, minus one
-Thy will be done-
stop
Turn and notice the Cross
On the kitchen wall
House awash
With God
I think, “Not lost”
And wife gives a nod
-On earth as it is in heaven-
Here, a poorly kept secret
Of a faith till the end
This secret
A burning life
Alight
With Christ
and so…
Dabbing eyes now
And in sorrow, smiling
Knowing how
This man
This dead man
On the floor
No more
Drawing Breath
Can yet live
Death, you have no sting
For this man
Who had faith in a King
Was truly delivered from evil
-Our Father, who art in heaven-
anthony forrest
Absolutely beautiful. Where would we be without our faith in Christ? How would we lessen the sting of losing a loved one? Where would our hope come from without Christ? Thank you for sharing and thank you for caring.
Why thank you! You are very right. I cannot imagine what it would look like moving through this life without faith in Christ. Thanks for reading!