Monday, February 22, 2021

Time's Sacred No-return Return


A small glimpse of a bit of recent 'pleasure-treasure!'







Do you ever get the sense 
that earth is a boat
and we're passengers 
on time's massive float
being drawn breath by breath 
toward a shore
through the access called Death
to Forevermore?





Time draws its barge along 
on straits of day to day 
Beneath the chime of golden gong 
or clime of lowered gray 
We grapple with A Sail 
of Utmost Gravity 
Because Time’s sacred charge entails 
far more than we can see 

Time tugs its transient bark 
‘neath arcs of dark and light 
Where we are far more than tourists 
on floats of sound and sight 
We wear God-granted grace 
as breath-tones rise and fall 
And bear the very common place 
of duty’s beck and call

Time flies through outstretched arms 
and eyes wide with surprise 
It breezes through fists clenched against 
its resolute demise
It tosses plans awry 
and teaches us to trust
The invisible hand that makes 
visible dust to dust

Time takes its telling toll 
on mortal’s temple-gate 
Where carriages of deathless soul 
have much to contemplate 
For This, no pleasure cruise, 
transports us to a Shore 
Where every single passenger 
embarks forevermore 

Time steals our breath and seals 
its aftermath in years 
How swift its gift of empty reels 
fills up and disappears 
While heart-strings groan and fray, 
and pray, we start to sense 
The absolute approaching of 
That Day of Recompense 

Time ticks around the clock 
but cannot tell how far 
Or near to the most searing dock 
and final pier we are 
To meet the destiny 
of This Fleeting Sojourn 
Where verily, eternity 
is time's sacred return

© Janet Martin 

Some encouragement while we 'sail'...
(Imagine if the passage below said
 'to the churches of Canada' in place of Thessalonians
and this could/would be said of us from its letter-writer?!!)

2 Thess.1:1-5
Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy,
*To the church of the Thessalonians 
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters,
[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, 
and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 
Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance 
and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, 
and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, 
for which you are suffering. 


2 Thess.2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, 
who loved us and by his grace gave us 
eternal encouragement and good hope, 
encourage your hearts and strengthen you 
in every good deed and word.


2 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos, Janet. Oh my!! They are all my favourites today. And what a thought provoking poem. A lovely wish and prayer from Paul, "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing." May it, indeed, be so in our land, in our hearts.

    Wishing you a beautiful week ahead!
    Brenda xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Brenda, and thank-you! Isn't that passage esp. meaningful right now?! So much to make us happy and sad these days, isn't there? By the grace of God we pray for increasing faith and love!

      May you have a blessed and encouragement-filled week as well,
      oxox

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