The Great Masterpiece

I'm not a poet or even remotely close to one, but these words came to me as I thought of the death of my ten year old cousin. He died this morning from cerebral malaria. His family are missionaries in Benin, Africa. I didn't know Christopher very well. He was my second cousin, but I know his parents and many of his aunts and uncles and my heart goes out to them. May God hold you in His arms and may we all someday see the beauty in the masterpiece He is painting in our lives. 

The Great Masterpiece

Ten years old when God called him home

Just a boy on the African plains

We're left here below and we struggle to see

How this could be part of the great Masterpiece

It feels like we're caught up in something unreal

Like we'll wake up and find it's all just a dream

Our hearts cry out as we struggle to see

How this could be part of the great Masterpiece

Friends and Family so far away

But they gather around the great Throne of Grace

And their hearts cry out with all of the saints

As they struggle to see

How this could be part of the great Masterpiece

Someday we'll stand before the Throne

When we have finally made it home

And then we'll see our Savior's face

And know that this was by His grace

 At last we'll see the beauty found

 In the Savior's Masterpiece

Looking Forward

i'm not much of a writer. actually i hate writing. but i also know that people sometimes like to know what is happening in my life. this blog is primarily designed for those kind of people. so as i look forward to becoming a high school teacher in york pa this year i ask myself one thing. am i ready for this? i have this weird phobia of failure. crazy, right? i mean nobody fears failure anymore. well this boy does. anyhow i am excited and scared all at the same time. i mean i thought one needs brains to be a teacher. academically i don't feel very prepared. however i know that it is all up to God. things that happen to me are for my good and for His glory. i want to glorify my God in this coming year. i want to help my students learn. i want to be more than just a teacher. i want to be a mentor, a friend. this blog will be kept as a sort of progress chart to see how i do. instead of emails i'll write my thoughts here. that way you can read them if you want to or you can ignore me altogether. if you read it fine, if you don't, see if i care. this way you get to make your choice. anyhow i'll try to keep it more or less up to date with my thoughts and schedule. as of right now i have two weeks left at home before i leave for york. two short weeks to prepare and get what i need. two short weeks left with my family before moving out. in two weeks i will be moving to york. i will be in york until at least the end of may next year. should be fun. lets do this.