The Land of Beginning Again
Scattered throughout the notes and writings of my dad was found this poem by Louise Fletcher. He quoted pieces of it during phones conversations. He inserted lines of it in correspondence. He used it in sermons and lectures.
And, of course, I know why….
He longed – as many of us do – to be able to retrace the years and redo the things he did wrong and enjoy more the precious things taken for granted. It seems a bit unfair that we are not able to realize the intrinsic value of the truly important things until it is too late.
Well, that’s not entirely true, for today my dad is in that land of beginning again. No heartaches, no tears. No broken relationships to be lamented. No regrets and failures. He’s there and I’m going for I, too, have my regrets.
One day, like all of us, we will come upon that Land all unawares – I wonder if we will be prepared…….
I wish that there were some wonderful place Called the Land of Beginning Again
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches And all of our selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat by the door And never be put on again.
I wish we could come on it all unaware Like the hunter who finds a lost trail
And I wish that the one whom our blindness has done The greatest injustice of all
Could be at the gates like an old friend that waits For the comrade he’s gladdest to hail.
We would find all the things we intended to do But forgot, and remembered too late;
Little praises unspoken, little promises broken And all of the thousand and one
Little duties neglected that might have perfected The day for one less fortunate.
It wouldn’t be possible not to be kind In the Land of Beginning Again
And the ones we misjudged and the ones whom we grudged Their moments of victory then
Would find in the grasp of our loving handclasp More than penitent lips could explain.
For what had been hardest we’d know had been best And what had seemed loss would be gain
For there isn’t a sting that will not take a wing When we’ve faced it and laughed it away,
And I think that the laughter is most what we’re after In the Land of Beginning Again.
So I wish that there were some wondered place Called the Land of Beginning Again
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches And all of our selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door And never be put on again.
–Louise Fletcher
In one spot in his writings, on a small piece of paper used for funeral addresses, Dad add the following to the end of this poem:
“For me to live is Christ — to DIE IS GAIN! Our Father, may we, like Paul, determine to live for Christ and experience the eternal gain.”
Amen to that………………
Happy Birthday, Dad
Today would have been my Dad’s 76th birthday. On May 5th, 2008, the Lord considered his earthly work done and took him home. His years among us were bittersweet for there were years of wandering and estrangement. Years of pain and separation.
But he finished well. His last days were spent in relative isolation in Danville, VA, where he spent untold hours walking and praying, calling on Heaven for those with whom he came in contact.
Upon entering his little apartment just hours after his death, my brother and I found list after list of names and concerns about which he had been praying. On his dresser beside his bed rested surely the last things his saw this side of eternity – they were pictures of family and a prayer list.
I’m so very thankful that God allowed me to have him for those last years – those good years.
And I’m even more thankful for the knowledge that my father is through with the earthly birthday celebrations and is praising his Heavenly Father around the Throne.
Jesus, The King
On the grounds of a hospital in the Tidewater area of Virginia, there is a cemetary. Just as he did at the Mountain View Cemetary in Danville, Dad would spend his days in that quiet place in prayer. These were precious times of communion and fellowship between my father and his Heavenly Father. His letters to me would report of tracing the footpaths of this quiet spot for hours on end while he cried out to God on behalf of our family and countless others for whom he was burdened.
As he walked and prayed, he would pass this marble statue of Christ. He would carry a small camera along and take pictures of this rendering of his Lord. Following are the quotes from the reverse of some of these.
“Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” -Titus 2:13-15
“The King is Coming!! He is the Answer! Hebrews 9:28″ (so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.)
“If I go away, I will come again…” -John 14
“Any hour!
Any minute!
The building behind is a hospital! I was with one of our ladys when she died. Her son (52) got saved and hasn’t missed church – an usher – is joining the church!
The King is coming!
Ephesians 1:19-23!!!!!!!!!”
(…and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power. God put this power to work in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but in the age to come. And He has put all things under His feet and has made Him head over all things for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.)
“When you begin to see these things come to pass, look up for your redemption draweth nigh!!”
He’s coming soon! Let’s pray together for a last days church revival!
*I had to kneel with elbows on the ground to get this shot - getting in practice for when I see Him for the first time!”
On another occasion and on another picture, Dad wrote:
“I had to get down on my knees to get this shot – Armistead Avenue with fast moving traffic goes by near this site – I got some attention but they just don’t know…! Phillipians 2:10: ‘That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth…’ The King is coming!”
“I had to get on my knees and nearly on my face to get this pic of Jesus in the clouds – minus the buildings and the trees.When I see Him for the first time, again, I will be on my knees – THE KING IS COMING!!!
EVEN SO, COME QUICKLY, LORD JESUS”
I believe that shortly after six o’clock Eastern time on the 5th day of May, 2008, my precious father was indeed on his knees in front of his Saviour. He has had the best month of his life in this place where time means nothing and all focus is on God and His Son.
First Sunday in Heaven
Are Sundays different in Heaven? Is the worship sweeter? Is the presence of the Lord more real? Is the angel chorus more prepared to sing? Are the hearts and minds of the worshipers more attentive? Do they wear different clothes on Sundays up there? Is anyone ever late for the service?
I wonder because today is my father’s first Sunday in Heaven. And, for the record, I don’t think Sundays are any different in Heaven than any other day. I think the worship is always sweet and intense and on purpose. I think the Sunday-wear is the same as the everyday wear. The angel chorus is always perfect and is augmented by the host of the redeemed.
Sundays in Heaven are the same as every other day there for worship is a way of life and the very purpose of existence. So my father is right at home for worship was a way of life for him while he was with us. And now, unfettered by the cares of life, unencumbered by the frailties and imperfections of an earthly body, my dad is indeed in heaven for he is where he has longed to be for so very long – in the eternal and constant presence of Jesus.
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