It's worthwhile, this 'witnessing God's grace while dying of cancer' gig, but sometimes...
...when I start with the dry heaves and can't catch my breath...
...when 'death in the dunny' is a BM that clearly shows my systems failing (sorry, but I promised to be honest)...
...and the nausea (well, honesty has its limits)...
...and when a single night seems longer than a year...
...I think maybe I need a career change.
The night was black,
black as the pit,
but when I woke, ‘twas
fancy free,
and now that death comes
down to it
I’ll live my days in
piracy.
I’ll run my soul before
the wind,
in search of loot, and
golden plunder,
and yes, Peccavi!, I
have sinned,
but I’ll have my share
ere I go under,
and revel in the debauched
days
of wild abandon, wilder
sun,
and sing a jaunty hymn
of praise;
‘Ere, mate, would ye
like some rum?
Cancer may my soul yet
harrow
but I shall fly like
Captain Sparrow.
The obvious music (please click here if Blogger doesn't load the video)...
As a rare oddity, I have never watched any pirates of the Caribbean films. I understand the reference I think! Praying for you and your family. May the Lord shine upon you always and whatever the struggle, take the pit you describe away from you. Lord I am sure Andrew finds favour in your eyes, please bring him peace and your presence at all times Amen. An early fmfer this week.
ReplyDeleteLoretta, thank you so much for your prayers, and please excuse the tardy response. It's been a hard week.
DeleteI'd definitely recommend the first three films in the 'Pirates' series; 4 an 5, not so much.
continuing to pray for you, Andrew. my family (well, except for me) love the Pirates movies. I have (unfortunately) seen them enough to know they are merciless. praying for much mercy over you in your trial these days.
ReplyDeleteMariel, I'm so grateful for your prayers...and there is mercy (though sometimes severe) here.
DeleteAndrew, I pray your day is better than you night was. Your next job will be a dream.
ReplyDeleteSuzette, thank you so much for these loving and uplifting words!
DeleteEven at this time there is Mercy Andrew.
ReplyDeleteFiona, there is mercy indeed, even now. Thank you for this.
DeleteHe has new mercy every morning, A, and it sounds like you really need a quadruple dose. xo
ReplyDeleteSusan, yes, a quadruple oe of mercy would be nice. It's been a reall tough week.
Delete"Cancer may my soul yet harrow
ReplyDeletebut I shall fly like Captain Sparrow."
Kudos on getting Captain Sparrow into a poem. =)
A harrow also breaks up land so that a seed can be planted. I know this hurts, and you've been at it a long time, but God is planting the seed of eternity in you. He is looking forward to a bumper crop.
Amie, FMF #11
Amie, thanks! I was elighted that I could find a workable rhyme and meter for Captain Sparrow...the sonnet would have been a bit flat without him.
DeleteAnd thank you for the 'agricultural' analogy of breaking up the land with a harrow. It's comforting for me.
Andrew, good luck on your new career. I think when Will Turner said," This is either madness or brilliance. Sparrow's reply sums it up best, "It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide.". I know you're sailing through rough waters but I also know whose Hand is on the wheel. I'll leave you with one more nautical quote from Arthur Ashe, " I keep sailing in this middle passage. I am sailing into the wind and the dark. But I am doing my best to keep my boat steady and my sails full." I pray that you do the same mate.
ReplyDeleteDuane, I love the quote on 'madness or brilliance'. It's perfect.
DeleteAnd the quote from Arthur Ashe is just lovely.
Thank you so much for being here, and for your prayers!
What grace that you still write prose and poetry in the hardest of times! Well, Hemingway said he bled out his words. What say ye? Oh Andrew, how the Lord knows. "Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called children of God." (1 Jn 3:1) Continued prayers for you and Barbara. Oh, yes, for Barbara!
ReplyDeleteMary, I am so grateful for this comment, and all the love and hope it contains. The Scripture from 1 John is perect.
DeleteAnd we thank you so much for your prayers.
Prayed for you today!
ReplyDeleteBeth, I am so grateful for your prayers!
DeleteYour creativity even on the bleakest days continues to flow, friend ...
ReplyDeleteLinda, thank you so much. Writing's an efort now, physically and mentally, but I'll keep it up while I can.
DeletePraying for you Andrew!
ReplyDeleteAnnie, thank you so much for your prayers, and for being here!
DeleteYour next career is bound to be beyond your wildest expectations, and include a victor's crown. I can just picture that great crowd of witnesses in the heavenlies watching you run your race, and wildly cheering you on as you approach the finish line. You and Barb are in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteGrams, thank you so much for this lovely, uplifting comment...I do sometimes feel vividly the presence of that great crowd of witnesess. It's a good feeling.
DeleteAnd thank you so much for the prayers!
Praying for strength and renewed grace for you.
ReplyDeleteWemi, thank you so much for your prayers, and for your presence here.
DeleteContinuing to pray over you as you await your invitation to your next and final career. May God's mercy and grace carry you each day.
ReplyDeleteCarol, thank you so much for your prayers...and there is both grace and mercy here, every day.
DeletePraying for you, Andrew! I'm so sorry the days are filled with grim and agonizing trips to the toilet. It's got to be so horrible! But we are all praying for you and hoping you find some solace and joy even on the worst of days. Hugs to you, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBeth, thank you so much for the prayers1 And yeah, the dunny trips are awful. No other way to escribe it, and I sure don't want to roll snake-eyes and ie there...it would be really undignified.
DeleteAnd the hugs are truly appreciated!
Love you brother!
ReplyDeleteLove you too, Tara. Thank you so mucch for being here!
DeleteAndrew, you, my friend, continue to be in my prayers. Piracy . . . it becomes you. I'd go easy on the rum though. ;)
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, thank you for your ever-encouraging, fun, thought-provoking words in your posts and poems. And for the videos and songs. I love tht scene from Pirates . . .
You and Barb are on my heart and in my prayers.
Jeanne, yeah, rum and a busted pancreas don't go well together. At the moment, even iced tea is like a punch in the gut!
DeleteI'm so glad you liked this week's post, and the tremendous compliment, that piracy becomes me! I treasure that, pun intended!
We so appreciate your prayers!