Sudden Patience

My heart fails when I see Your sudden ways,

O patient God, Who strings along our life,

then strikes to bring a quick end to our days,

and cut the cord of life with death's sharp knife.

When, patient God, You take someone so young,

do they know the condition they are in,

the slender thread by which their life is hung

is cut, like Hamlet's dad, with every sin?

Sometimes God takes the young before they're old

enough to have the time to sin much more,

they also miss their chance for deeds of gold,

O patient God, mysterious to the core.

Let me be patient with You and Your care,

but most, like Boy Scouts, Lord, let me prepare.

                                      -- by Pete Voelz      2/10