"THE
STRANGER"
The rain
drops poured and thunder roared,
as lightning
winked it's eye,
and from a
bolt, a crashing jolt
came surging
from the sky!
I crouched
into the last - row pew
in our small
country church,
and through
the back way I could view
a scene my
eyes would search.
For storm
winds pried the door out wide,
I peered
into the maze,
and found
myself just mystified
at
frightening, lightning rays.
Then, a
crashing sound fell all around
and echoed
on the soar,
and through
and through it shook each pew
with rumble
in it's roar!
The
congregation hushed their song,
the great
"Amazing Grace",
when vibrant
strong that came along
just shook
this holy place.
And from the
night and flashing light,
and through
the rain's downpour;
there came a
sight mid thunder's might....
a man stood
at the door!!
A thinly
man, quite wan and bland,
with
headband and a beard.
His cloths
were worn and tattered torn,
a sight that
just appeared!
" 'Tis a
vagabond" someone said;
" just
homeless on his way,
out looking
for a place to spread
and for the
night to stay".
But in he
came from torrent rain,
caught
everybody's eye;
for clothes
he wore from core to core
was dry as
dry is dry!!
And there
behold on door's threshold....
stood he who
looked half dead;
that
contrast pales to mighty gales
that raged
on overhead.
And
suddenly! there was no sound,
which
silence stole away,
which was as
loud as any cloud
that burst a
lightning ray.
Then, all
eyes scanned the lonely man,
who strolled
down through the aisle.
His speech
began at the pulpit stand,
with sermons
heard a mile.
And he
preached on with a mighty tone
that held us
in his spell.
A total
stranger, quite unknown,
declaring
war on hell!
He knew the
bible front to back
and not once
did he look;
and did not
lack, nor was he slack
on words
from that good book.
He preached
away and I must say;
"I never saw
the sort";
this
stranger man at the pulpit stand,
just flowing
with rapport.
Then, all
around came thunder down
and
lightning struck it's mark;
and overhead
the lights went dead
and left us
in the dark.
But in due
time the lights were fine,
but folks
don't comprehend;
for at the
stand the bearded man
had
disappeared within!
"So, who was
he, this mystery?
Will he ever
show anon?
Was he the
man whose blood had ran
or just a
mere icon?
The Holy
one, God's own true Son,
who put us
to the test?
Or just a
bum who's hooked on rum?
I guess we
only guess!
on record
