All,
This is the sick guy again. Don't mean to bore you, but i want to share something special.
Many of you don't know that i am a fan of poetry. My primary recreational reading is English Lit. Sorry, i am just a boring guy.
Anyway, while i was in surgery my precious daughter had the idea to have each person write a phrase from one of my favorite poems in their own script. She then took the single sheet complete with the poem in 8 different scripts, framed in between two sheets of glass in a handsome frame. I have read it over and over.
I'd like to share it with you with the understanding that this verse just means a lot to me. It isn't Scripture and the basic thesis can be debated. However, please read it and let the power of the words sink in. It was written by Rudyard Kipling and goes like this:
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you. But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don't deal in lies, or being hated don't give way to hating, and don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream and not make dreams you master,
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster. And treat those two impostors the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken, twisted by knaves to make a truth for fools, or watch the things you have given your life to broken, and stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
and lose, and start again at your beginnings and never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew to serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you except the will which says to them, "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with kings-nor loose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds' worth of distance run-
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more...............you'll be a man my son!
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14 comments:
Aaron, I did not know you were a poet. I guess the ole saying is true. You are a poet and we did not know it, see I'm one to. As far as wondering if your touching lives, HELLO. Give Denise a hug.
Love you guys.
Greg
♥ you know im not precious!
Wow.. when you read that and really take the time to let it soak in.. as you like to say, "that'll preach!" We love you and miss you both. Can't you make a special trip up just for Sunday night to do some roller skating?? :-)
Dan Ratcliffe
Bro. Aaron and Denise,
We wanted to let you know that we are thinking about you guys. We pray that you will continue to recover quickly. We miss you!
Love, Doug, Emily, Lauren and Connor
Reverend Doctor Brother Pastor Aaron:
Glad you're recovering nicely...still praying. Thanks for sharing the poem. Loved it.
Have you heard this one by R. L. Sharpe?
"Isn't it strange that princes and kings
And clowns that caper in sawdust rings
And common folk like you and me
Are builders for eternity.
To each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass and a book of rules,
And each must make, ere time is flown
A stumbling block or a stepping stone."
Thanks for being a stepping stone for me, brother. Love you and Denise.
--Will Weir
Brother,
Is it not strange that we who blog with you guys (alias, y'all) are so often torn between waxing philosophical, waxing emotional, waxing theological, or waxing comical. Reading through the blog and comments each night is kinda like Karate Kid... wax on... wax off.. wax on... wax off. It's gonna hurt in a few days when somebody comes along and yanks all that wax.... when the blog goes down, we're gonna all be hairless wonders!
Never the less, we continue to pray for you to be healed in God's time, for God's purposes in this to be completed, and for your return to shepherd the flock. Surely more has transpired in the Kingdom of God through this tempest than simply the rerouting of your pieces parts!
Blessings,
CWM
Very nice poem, but the gesture is even more special.
In case no one has wished you a happy Swiss Independence Day yet, let me be the first: HAPPY SWISS INDEPENDENCE DAY! Lets remember Zwingli, Calvin, Manz, Hubmaier and all the rest today.
Unfortunately the complete rendering of Felix Manz's hymn has been lost to time, but here is a portion of it:
With gladness will I now sing;
My heart delights in God,
Who showed me such forbearance
That I from death was saved
Which never hath an end.
I praise Thee, Christ in heaven
Who all my sorrow changed.
Prayers continue,
Canyon
Today
I shall do so much in the years to come,
But what have I done today?
I shall give out gold in princely sum,
But what did I give today?
I shall lift the heart and dry the tear
I shall plant a hope in the place of fear
I shall speak with words of love and cheer,
But what have I done today?
I shall bring to each lonely life a smile
But give to truth a greater birth
And to steadfast faith a deeper worth,
I shall feed the hungering souls of earth,
But whom have I fed today?
anonymous
Seeing these pages full of wisdom, truth and creativity day after day is pretty cool stuff. It's also a reminder of the simpleness and feebleness of this man's mind.
I saw a sign outside a small-town church years ago: "Our testimony is showing others our scars and telling them how Jesus healed us". Thank you both for openly sharing your story in such a personal way.
As far as this simple, country boy is concerned Garth Brooks said it all: "I coulda missed the pain, but I'da had to miss the dance."
Singing praises and prayers to our Mighty King on your behalf.
Love, the smiths
I so enjoy reading on this blog everyday--hearing from you both and all who love you.
I, too, like an occasional verse and ran across this recently and keep posted at my desk so wanted to share:
"In spite of illness, in spite of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways".
May you both have a blessed day today! Praying for you & Beth too,
Terry P.
I like poetry too.........
There once was a man named Aaron,
A new apparatus he is wearing
His flock at Summit is caring,
and can't wait to the day he is back sharing.
Much Mushyness!
Pam Moss
Aaron and Denise, Some people live their whole lives and never recognize God's hand as clearly as you have seen it in these past 15 days. What a blessing and encouragement to share this time with you. I too am a poetry fan, as my instructor said: Poetry is the story that is left when you have hog tied and partially gagged the author and then asked him to tell a story. It makes for a powerful read when done with passion.
Chuck and I were thinking it must be "smoothie time". Whenever you two are ready we'd love to share one with you. Prayers and love- Jamie
After reading your poem, which also is a favorite of mine, I asked a friend, "Do you like Kipling?" He replied, "I don't know. I never Kipled!"
-Bob Trent
Pastor Aaron and Denise, Good to hear there is progress, slow but still progress. Denise have you tried the "running water" test, the "warm shower" (if allowed to be in a shower), a heat pad on the body area. Just trying to think of ways to get the plumbing going. We haven't hear much about how you are tolerating food. Food is relly overrated. When you get really hungry think about two toasted slices of wheat bread all covered with pimento cheese and you are about to take your first bite. I bet you won't be hungry any more. Sorry, but as for me I really like pimento cheese, so I will eat your share. Great poem that Denae shared with you. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I love quotes from great authors or people who can put things into words that I can't.
"Prayer delights God's ear, it melts His heart, it opens His hand: God cannot deny a praying soul". Thomas Watson
"Patience means living out the belief that God orders everything for the spiritual good of his chilren". J. I. PACKER
"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." Leo Tolstoy
I hope you are making notes of all the sermons you are gleaning each day from your circumstances.
Praying that specific areas of your body will be touched today and God will reveal results to you.
Love you all, Hugh and Linda
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