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.

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