"Let Me Get Home Before Dark"
by Robertson McQuilkin
It's sundown,Lord.
The shadows of my life stretch back
into the dimness of the years long
spent.
I fear not death,for that grim foe
betrays himself at last,
thrusting me forever into life:
Life with you,unsoiled and free.
But I do fear.
I fear the Dark Spectre may come too
soon-
or do I mean,too late?
That I should end before I finish or
finish,but not well.
That I should stain your honor,shame
your name,
grieve your loving heart.
Few,they tell me,finish well...
Lord,let me get home before dark.
...........
The darkness of a spirit
grown mean and small,fruit shriveled on
the vine,
bitter to the taste of my companions,
burden to be borne by those brave few
who love me still.
No,Lord.Let the fruit grow lush and
sweet,
A joy to all who taste;
Spirit-sign of God at work,
stronger,fuller,brighter at the end.
Lord,let me get home before dark.
...........
The darkness of tattered gifts,
rust-locked,half-spent or ill-spent,
A life that once was used of God
now set aside.
Grief for glories gone or
Fretting for a task God never gave.
Mourning in the hollow chambers of
memory,
Gazing on the faded banners of
victories long gone.
Cannot I run well unto the end?
Lord,let me get home before dark.
...........
The outer me decays-
I do not fret or ask reprieve.
The ebbing strength but weans me from
mother earth
and grows me up for heaven.
I do not cling to shadows cast by
immortality.
I do not patch the scaffold lent to
build the real,eternal me.
I do not clutch about me my cocoon,
vainly struggling to hold hostage
a free spirit pressing to be born.
But will I reach the gate
in lingering pain,body
distorted,grotesque?
Or will it be a mind
wandering untethered among light
phantasies or grim terrors?
Of your grace,Father,I humbly ask...
Let me get home before dark.
.............................
.............E.O.F.......