The Calling In What Remains Of Your Life

The eyes of the aspen are watching to see
if before you cross over to that next place
you’ll take your simple life and grind it up
in your imagination so as to build exquisite
arbors of memory your children and children’s
children can stand beneath and find shade.
If you are faithful to this calling then future
generations might pause beneath the shelter
of your effort, shored up with the knowing
that one of their kin dared each day to look
unafraid into the very heart of this sorrowed
heaven on earth and that even in the vex of
grief said thank you, thank you for it all.
The eyes of the aspen are watching to see
if you’ll spend the remains of your life this way.
If so these earthly angels promise gold as you
surrender, a quaking whisper of those
forgotten words from the old book: well done.
 
 

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18 Comments

  1. SueAwes on January 11, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    Oh John Blase, this poem, this poem.

  2. Cynthia on January 11, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    Wow…this is just so beautiful. Thank you for the eyes of the aspen; the gold of your words.

  3. Ann Voskamp@Holy Experience on January 11, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    That is all.
    Thank you for it all.

  4. Christie on January 11, 2014 at 4:02 pm

    Yes, this is the life I want. (Though I would have to trade Colorado’s aspens for Pennsylvania’s maples.)

  5. Ruth on January 11, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    This is beautiful and so encouraging. Thank you.

  6. Sue on January 11, 2014 at 5:35 pm

    Wow. Crying here. Getting older and seeing that this is my one thing, and hoping desperately that it is enough. Thank you for the picture.

  7. Jen Jacobsen on January 11, 2014 at 5:51 pm

    ah-mazing… yes and amen

  8. Shelly Miller on January 11, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    Oh my. The Spirit of God in your words is evident. May it be so.

  9. Gwen Acres on January 11, 2014 at 8:36 pm

    “…even in the vex of grief said thank you..”

    Thank you for this exquisite picture of gratitude.

  10. Mary E. Agius on January 12, 2014 at 12:55 am

    Seriously? Wow, that is poetic and beautiful.

  11. pastordt on January 12, 2014 at 7:08 am

    this: “even in the vex of
    grief he said thank you, thank you for it all.”
    I do believe this is the heart of it all, what makes life good and as close to whole as we’re going to get. Thanks for all your good words, John.

  12. inplainjaneview on January 12, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    This is stunning in its beauty. Stunning.

  13. Ron Marilynne Lawrence on January 12, 2014 at 5:07 pm

    and thus old men plant trees!

  14. Juliea on January 12, 2014 at 8:30 pm

    So utterly, awesomely beautiful.

  15. Joanna on January 13, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    beautiful.

  16. Jennifer on January 14, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    So very lovely.

  17. Elizabeth on January 14, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    May I be so faithful. Thank you for this.

  18. Favorite Words This Week - Redemptions Beauty on January 18, 2014 at 2:00 am

    […] The Calling in What Remains of Your Life by John Blase (I might need these words inside a frame on a wall in my house.) […]

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