Ode to Ronnie

An Ode to RonnieOn the precipice of maybe.Held by a single thread.Eternity awaiting.Wishing, longing to knowJust what was said.Did he come to you Jesus?Or did You beckon to him?He longed for The FatherBut it was You who ran after him.Now we are left to ponderAlll that could have beenA man of compassionA nature after HimYet trapped as the remainderIn this world broken by sin.Fragments and memoriesAre what is leftTime for usLife for himLike the eunuch asking"How can I" and"What hinders me"In simplicity the answer"If you believe"None that come to YouDo you turn awayThe Shepherd searchingFor the one gone astrayThe thief said"Remember me"And You replied"Today"A wise person thinks about deathSolomon said.So let us considerAll that has been said.For we have been givenThis dayThis momentThis chanceTo forgetAnd forgiveTo be knownAs poor reflectionsOf Him.Even soLet love be our endAnd truth our meansJesus, our onlyAnd His sheep Ours to tend.It cannot be deniedNor escape from Your gazeWe will be called to accountFor this Life You have gaveAnd that Life is Your SonThat all may be savedBut to us it is givenTo believe on His NameLet our brevity be our unctionDeath and eternityOur focus and factFor tomorrow is promised to no oneIt is here that we must act.The day of salvation is nowA call to repentanceReturn to Him all that are His"That the world may know that Youhave sent Me, and loved them as You havedloved Me." Jesus saidLet settled destinyBe our never ending taskOf first importanceAll else can lackSo to my dear cousinThis ode is to youThe Lord testifyingWhat it is I need to doNo longer will I fear menTo proclaim The TruthYour example and your departureHave altered my perspectiveAnd narrowed my viewI will take of your compassionAnd apply it to allSo that one day we tooCan be where you are.How I know that you now abideWith the Lover of our soul'sIs not for me to decideNot of wishful thinkingOr sentimental longingBut peace that passes understanding Was given to my heart and my mind.And as at the firstIt was given to me thus:"That God was in Christreconciling the world to Himself""For He made Him who knewno sin to be sin for us"But for all that, the sadness remainsA longing to be where you areWhere there is no longer pain.I understand better why Jesus weptAt the tomb of His friendFor death is proof that all has gone wrongNo, it was not The Fathers intent.So we will mourn that we see you no moreBut that is only a delayLike the long awaited vacationTill we return home on that dayFor now my friend we will carry onOf duty, of giving, of helpingOf sharing and loving most of allLet your life reminds us of what is TrueThat if we strip back all of what we areIt is the heart that can shine through.Mike Balog

Thank you my friend.Thanks for providing an avenue to express my thoughts.Thank you LordFor everything.

Wow, Mike. How beautifully sincere, and wonderfully encouraging. Thank you so much for baring your heart in this. I know that God used you in his life, and will continue to pray that He'll work through you and use you to accomplish His will.

Thank you for your kind words :-)

THE HOPE OF HIS COMINGThere is a balm for every pain,A medicine for all sorrow;The eye turned backward to the Cross,And forward to the morrow.The morrow of the glory and the psalm,When He shall come;The morrow of the harping and the palm,The welcome home. Meantime in His beloved hands our ways, And on His Heart the wandering heart at rest;And comfort for the weary one who laysHis head upon His Breast.GERHARD TERSTEEGEN, 1897-1769

Bless you Lars.