The Writer's Role

“There's nothing here forever in this crazy world of ours” –
It looks that way, but it's not true, as quickly pass the hours;
Sure, “health, and strength, and daily food” which we've received from You
Are here, and then they're gone again, no matter what we do.

Our jobs and pay, security – ephemeral at best –
A flood or earthquake, civil war, affects us like the rest;
One day it's peace, tranquility, we think it all will last,
And then a tower falls on us, destroyed in fiery blast.

There comes a time when we give up, let go, and let it pass;
For some it's early, others late – we're buried ’neath the grass;
Two generations at the most and few recall us here –
Or read into our scanty lives some fiction we'd find queer.

But somehow that's appropriate, for fiction rules of our day,
As we move from reality and PR has its way;
We strut and prance upon the stage like Shakespeare said of old,
And then we pass into the night – check out what we've been told.

We hear once more a hockey team has triumphed at the last –
They, starting poorly, soldiered on, two overtimes had passed;
They played each game, (as three were lost of seven at the start)
Aware of threat of sudden death, but still did not lose heart.

That is the way I feel these days – and see it's true for lots –
“Come from behind”, “late-blooming types”, –“rise up for all's not lost” –
He spoke this week of hope, and faith, and love, despite the mess;
And urged us to let go of past – press on to find the rest.

“God does not look into our past to find our future day,
But takes us back to future-hope to find our present way”.
“The victory is ours”, he said, “if we will not lose heart,
But rather, keep our place in Him, and do our daily part”.

“For it's not over in our lives until our day is done,
The curtain drops, the siren sounds, fat lady's song is sung;
One never knows – six cars pile up, the lead horse throws a shoe –
Come on, let's fight another day, there's lots for us to do”.

“For faith, and hope, and love, abide as all else falls away”
Paul wrote to friends he'd known before, and now we read today;
So write it down, and pass it on, just do your little part,
Who knows – some day, somehow, someone in darkness might take heart.

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