The Trail of Love

(wrote in January of '04)

Trail of Love

I was walking through the wilderness on a cold winter night
The stars were glowing bright, high up in the sky
The trees swayed left and right, the wind had been blowing all night
The cold moist air whipping across my face
A hard branch brushing my side, it scared me half to death

 

The trail was long and had many turns
Each trail had a different sign
There was a sign for everything, from parties to love, friends to homework
It was all coming down
Where was I? What did this all mean? What was I to do?

 

I just could not see
Obedience, lust, sharing, giving
They came one by one
What to do? Where to go?
It felt as if I was all alone, running rapidly as fast as I could
Everything seemed so blank

 

I began to grow tired, I slowed myself down
I looked up at the next turn, football or church is what they read
It had not caught my eye until just now it seemed as if the words were burning
Out of excitement I walked towards the game
The sky started to blacken, then I heard my name
It was telling me to turn back, but I pushed away and kept going down this path

 

As I grew closer to the game, I saw people shouting out with shame
What was going on? How could this be?
It seemed as if they were all yelling at me
I walked to the 50 to start the game
I was going to be the star and live up to my name
A man ran me over and knocked me off my feet, I jumped up to fight back
What had gotten into me?
I was turning into one of them, I could not take anymore

 

So I headed back towards the trees, I was back on the trail
But something didn’t seem right, everything was growing darker through the night
The wind was now whistling, slashing through the trees
I felt as if I was going to lose it all right there
The fear in my eyes, the fear in my heart
What was I missing?
Something had gone wrong

 

I fell to my knees and began to cry
Then everything lit up, and heaven opened the skies, and an image walked to my side
It was a man so tall and perfect, He placed His hand on my shoulder
I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know what to say

I just sat there with my hands in my face

 

He looked down upon me in all His glory, and said,
“Patrick, my son, it will be okay, get up and walk with Me”
I stood up right away then stopped in my tracks and looked away
“Why, oh why, Lord do you pick me?
When I said I loved you, and I didn’t know what it really meant
You though have always been there
Even through the times I turned down Your Word for play
Why me, why me Lord, Why do You stay?"

 

He replied, “Shush your mouth young child
For your words do not match
I made you a promise and I am not turning back
For love is forever and forever I will stay

Don’t turn back, don’t turn away

 

From this day forward you will follow My Word
Not turning back from what you have been told
Just follow your heart I will always be there
I will not leave you, because I care
There may be some struggles in the road of life
But just remember what love is and you will be alright
For I am love and I will love you for the rest of your life

 

Now just remember this and you will succeed
Through all big and little things
Now move about child don’t waste anytime
Share with the world the love, that you have felt on this night
Now go on, I will see you soon, in a better place where love is life.”
He hugged me tight, and I followed Him down the trail of Love.