Friends

I saw an old man the other night Who just didn't seem right, So weary and beaten Not mean nor bad, Just looked like he'd had All any man could stand. Rough and rugged Yet worn and gentle, Like a person who'd truly care And perhaps be even a bit sentimental. When he looked up From where he had fallen, I saw a tear in his eye And even a little fear upon his face, A worried soul with a troubled mind- Too many burdens, not enough time- So many forgotten dreams, lost in ungrace. I gazed upon this moment to see... What looks alot like me. The way we look, the way we view, One to another, sister to brother, Sometimes we stand, sometimes we fall, Me-them-you We're not so far apart after all. Now when I look at others I peer much closer, and try to see: What is in them, Is also within me. A friend of God Is indeed a friend of mine; Brothers to others Throughout all time. For, above cloudy skies The sun does shine, and Somewhere out there, the amatuer poet writes grand words... Whether they do or do not rhyme. The human story Is full of much glory That the world cares not to notice, For human kind Is littered with self inflicted crime, and Tis a twisted, sordid affair As so much evil takes its share. God alone knows The way it all goes When life knocks any of us down So hard to the ground; May we with compassion Truly try to understand, The lost, afraid, and lonely Child, woman, and man. And thereby begin to comprehend The things people do Are not at all perfect, nor nearly always right, Just needs be to make it through The darkness of another fearful night. -Judgement is not anyones to assert, For no mortal is able to fully understand The degree of personal pain in the hurt. God alone, sits on Heaven's justice throne. Mercy and grace arrive in so many ways Across a multitude of lives and days; Who then is qualified to truly decide The magnitude of evils treacherous lies, Or the pain therein Endured by any one human? Upon such angels dare not even glance, Lest they also fall into a worldly trance. For God has already forgave All mistakes made, The heavy cost Nailed long ago on a wooden cross. Therefore, ignorant human endeavor Is left not at all too clever; Rather than kick-em-when-they're-down Bend low, and lift a ' friend ' up, off the ground. Because all it would take for Christ's sake, To show love and compassion has already been done By God's own son. So dare to look ahead Far beyond this the land of the dead, And despise not others Nor judge the 'different', our sisters and brothers. We all have our burdens to bear Pressing upon the wounds we wear; How much better 'twould be In love and with care The heavy load to share, While trying earnestly to understand why For some 'to live is to die'. A friend of God Is indeed a friend of mine; In God we are all friends, Into and right on through The very end of time. When all together, forever We shall live and dance, And everyone is a true friend... With a God given chance.