The man arose from his sleep and walked
out into the cold, crisp night. Leaves crunched underfoot as he wandered,
thoughtful, drifting, pondering the trees, the lake and the gentle breeze.
Compelled by the brightness of the night sky, he sat below it and was slowly
drawn towards its infinity. The stars beckoned his eyes, gently guiding
his mind into their mysteries and endless depths. Soon his heart also began
to browse their glory, exploring their fire, passion and perpetual orbits
whilst striving to understand their purpose.
The man watched and considered all that had been so skilfully and consciously
laid out before him. As he drew himself back to the cold harshness of the
night, he was engulfed by sadness; a sorrow so intense it seeped into his
pores and drenched his very being. After a few moments he looked again at
the starry expanse before him and through his tears he resigned himself
to the failure of a dream. He realised with the hollow echo of a slammed
prison door that he would never; could never journey beyond the coil of
fear and despair that was his life. Trapped by this finality the man cried.
Minutes passed, hours, maybe days and when the final cry of a broken man
had been offered to the stars he looked up. He looked up at the impossible
and the impossible finally returned his gaze. He saw the impossible shining
its glory brighter than ever before.
He saw hope. The night sky became insignificant and fell back to make way for a single
star, whilst the other stars dimmed to a mere glow in its presence. The
star of truth, even the morning and evening star continued to descend towards
the man who just watched in awe. First broken, now humbled and soon to have
his dreams fulfilled by the dreams of the creator.
As the man looked, he cried again, this time for joy, this time for the
fulfilment of life and the hope of eternity. The star entered the man and
made his abode with him and the man began to shine with the same glory that
had dimmed the heavens and once long ago created them. He arose and stood
tall walking amongst the trees, the lake and the gentle breeze. He laughed
and sang as he returned to his place in the world with his new banner of
hope. As he continued his journey through life, looking forward to a life
beyond it, he never stopped radiating the glory of creation and the power
of his dearest and closest friend. The bright and morning star, Jesus Christ.
Martin Gladdish - January 2002 |
Poems 