Funny thing, but during my appointments in Youth Ministries you might often hear me say “I’m too old to be this young!” Nowadays I find myself saying the reverse “I’m too young to be this old!” Sometimes there seems to be an added weariness that comes with age and experience – the burden seems heavier. There’s this T-shirt on sale (on line) with the slogan: “I’m retired. I was tired yesterday and I’ll be tired again today!” I’m thinking about getting one!

On Friday past I left the office with a clear plan of action for my posts for this week as we approach November 11 but then yesterday happened. A very disturbed individual walks into a small church in Texas and randomly murders twenty-six people while wounding twenty others and before it all ends he himself is dead, either at his own hand or at the hand of another.

My soul heaves a very heavy sigh. I’m tired…of the hate, the violence, the cruelty, wars, murders, suicides, nature’s calamities…

Many corps in our territory had the privilege of honouring our veterans with a special memorial service or reflection during the Sunday morning meeting yesterday. I’ve always had such mixed emotions at these events. Often this happens at the hall but there are those who meet at a cenotaph or similar place to conduct their service – if not yesterday or on a Sunday perhaps some other time of the year. That’s been my experience as a CO. For those wondering where this is going I hope this pulls it together for you!

The following poem took me eight months to complete but I felt I had to do this. It was a particularly heavy-hearted-Sunday when the seed was first planted and the sentiments expressed then, continue to rise up in me at every report of terrorism, mass shootings, any examples of hate in the hearts of people…

And so it was yesterday…

And so it is today…

I think I may have posted this on my own Facebook page or sent it to friends who indicate an interest in such things so it is possible that some of you may have seen this already. Nevertheless here it is… again.

The Eyes of God!
Randy C. Hicks
February 26, 2017

Like huge tears
The drops splashed 
Against the great stone cross
Erected as a memorial 
To the fallen
And we
Standing beneath it
Were being washed by the water
But we are not clean
We have not learned
And one wonders 
If we ever will
If we really do care...
Wars to end wars
Really
Fire with Fire
Anger with Anger
Hate with Hate
Have you noticed
It's not working...
It never has worked...
More large blotches
It was trying to rain
Or was it trying not to rain
I'm thinking still...
What will work
How can we stop 
The misery and pain
Of conflict...
What about the rule
You know the one
The "golden rule"
Treat others
As you would have them
Treat you
Sounds simple enough
But we don't do it
No, I think I'm 
Better than you
I'm not better
Just different
I think I'm 
Smarter than you
I'm not smarter
Just different
My skin colour
What does it matter
My mother tongue
What of it
Can I not just be 
Who I am
Or at least try to find out
What that even means
Can you not be
Just who you are
Who makes these rules
Too tall - Too short
Too fat - Too thin
Too black - Too white
Too smart - Too stupid
Too religious - Too atheistic 
Too different - Too alike
Says who
Movement on the grounds
Pipers, Drums, Cadets
Veterans, Dignitaries 
Flags, Wreaths
Still misty - the sky crying
Funny thing
When my kids were little
They would say
Their eyes were leaking
When they didn't understand
What tears were about
The service begins
Greetings, Prayers, Poems
SA Band plays
Anthems, Hymns
Chaplain speaks a word
People are getting wet
Better wrap it up
Last worship song
Benediction
The Queen
Pick up...move out
That's it
For another year...
Drizzling heavier...
Raining now
Wipers on full...
The heavens weeping
The eyes of God...are leaking