A while back, more than a

decade or so ago, in fact, I wrote something that I

referred to as a poem at the time. I called it

"Eternal Truth."

I'm not sure it was really

a poem, because I like my words to fall "just

so" when I try to write poetry, and they didn't fall

that way. But for lack of a better term, I'm still going

to call it a poem, and I will attempt once more to give

it some degree of form as I share it here.

First, recall with me if

you will the story of Joseph in Genesis, chapters 37

through 50. Remember how he was the favored child of his

father, Jacob. Well, being the favored one is not all

it's cracked up to be, because sooner or later, the one

doing the favoring turns his or her back, or just gets

taken out of the picture for some reason or another.

When that happens, one is

left to contend with those who may feel jealous or

threatened because of the favoritism shown. Thus, the

favored one - in this case Joseph - as soon as

he gets out from under the watchful, wise and all caring

eye of the father, gets sold down the creek. Except it

wasn't a creek. It was a desert.

And his trek through the

desert after being sold into slavery by his brothers was

just the beginning. As injustice after injustice was

flung his way, he held fast to his faith. Go figure! I'm

not sure I could have measured up.

But measure up he did.

Right on up until the time he ordered that the grain be

measured out for his brothers so his family would not

starve during the famine.

Okay, you either know the

story, or you don't. If you do, you may be ready for my

"poem." If you don't, then you may want to read

the Genesis passages first.

I suppose you regular

readers must be wondering why I am rambling like I am

today. The truth is I'm angry, downright mad I suppose,

at a series of circumstances about which it appears that

I can do little or nothing.

Ah, but I can write. So I

tap this keyboard with a vengeance and a prayer. Not a

good combo, huh? But very therapeutic.

Perhaps I had better stop

rambling and just share the poem...

Eternal Truth

He wanted to smile

as his mind began

to wander back

down through the lonely

years.

Recalling little laughter,

knowing anew the tears

he had cried alone

on that desert journey

where no one had known

the emptiness.

Where there had been no one

with whom to share

the brokenness

of a heart where

the bitter anguish of

betrayal

had reigned for a season.

Loved ones lost for a while

He wondered at the ways

God chooses

to work in the affairs of

men.

False accusations were so

unfair.

And, always, it seemed

there were so few who

cared.

Yet freedom had come

and honor

and now this moment!

He gave them the grain.

Their very lives

lay in the palm of his hand

as the light of

understanding

shined through years of

darkness.

Suddenly he could see

beyond the pain of

yesterday,

beyond all faults and

failures

(including his own),

beyond all the grief

his father must have known,

beyond the terror

their hungry hearts

must know today.

Alas! He wondered

as he saw the plan

for all the age!

- Eternal Truth -

He saw it!

He had known he would...

"You, you meant evil

against me,"

he said,

"but God,

God meant it for

good."

And he smiled.