As Time Rolls
On
-Phyllis Michael
As Time rolls on
God gives us grace
To accept the things
that come our way.
To live with them
and calmly face
The joys and grief’s
of each new day.
Faith never comes
with a surge of power
At a moment’s notice
like the wind that blows
Nor yet in the stillness
of a midnight hour—
But as Time rolls on—
slowly it grows.
God gives us grace
to forget some things,
To see only the rainbow
when the storm is gone.
Oh, greatest indeed,
of the blessings life brings
God gives us faith
as Time rolls on.
Just Reward
The police officer stood
and faced his Maker, which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were
shining, Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, police
officer how shall I deal with you?
Have you always
turned the other cheek? To your Maker, have you been true?"
The police officer, with
squared shoulders, said "No sir, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry badges can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most
Sundays and at times my talk was rough, and sometimes I've been violent,
because the streets are tough.
But I never took a penny,
that wasn't mine to keep. Though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills
just got too steep.
And I never passed by
a cry for help though sometimes I shook with fear, and
sometimes, please forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve
a place among the people here. They never wanted me around except to calm
their fears. But if you have a place for me here, well...it need
not be too grand. I never expected or had too much so if you don't...I'll
understand."
There was silence all
around the room where the saints respectfully stood. As the police officer
waited quietly, for the judgment...bad or good.
"Step forward now police
officer, you've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's
streets; you've done your time in Hell."--Author Unknown
The Elephant
in the Room
by Kettering*
There's an elephant in the
room.
It is large and squatting,
so it is hard to get around it.
Yet we squeeze by with
"How are you?"
and "I'm fine"...
And a thousand other
forms of trivial chatter.
We talk about the weather.
We talk about work.
We talk about everything
else--except the elephant in the room.
There's an elephant in
the room.
We all know it is there.
We are thinking about
the elephant as we talk together.
It is constantly on our
minds.
For, you see, it is a
very big elephant.
It has hurt us all.
But we do not talk about
the elephant in the room.
Oh, please, say their
name.
Oh, please, say "------"
again.
Oh, please, let's talk
about the elephant in the room.
For if we talk about
their death,
Perhaps we can talk about
their life.
Can I say "----" to you
and not have you look away?
For if I cannot, then
you are leaving me
Alone....In a room...
With an elephant.