On Distant Shores
"I have been scarred so deep by life and cold despair, and brittle bones were broken far beyond repair. I have leveled lies so deep, the truth may never find. And inside my faithless heart, I stole things never mine.
If mercy falls upon the broken and the poor, Dear Father, I will see you, there on distant shores.
I have toiled for countless years and ever felt the cost, and I've been burned by this world's cold, like leaves beneath the frost. On my knees I've crawled to You, bleeding myself dry. But the price of life is more, than I could ever buy.
And off of the blocks, I was headstrong and proud, at the front of the line for the card-carrying, highbrowed. With both eyes fastened tight, yet unscarred from the fight. Running at full tilt, my sword pulled from its hilt. It's funny how these things can slip away, our frail deeds, the last will wave good-bye. It's funny how the hope will bleed away, the citadels we build and fortify. Good-Bye.
Night came and I broke my stride, I swallowed hard, but never cried. When grace was easy to forget, I'd denounce the hypocrites, casting first stones, killing my own. You would unscale my blind eyes, and I stood battered, but more wise, fighting to accelerate, shaking free from crippling weight. With resilience unsurpassed, I clawed my way to You at last. And on my knees, I wept at Your feet, I finally believed, that You still loved me.
Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again. Jesus Christ, Light of the World, burning bright within our hearts forever. Freedom means love without condition, without beginning or an end. Here's my heart, let it be forever Yours, only You can make every new day seem so new."
I'm not one to post song lyrics much, but these words are too amazing not to share. It's the song "On Distant Shores" by Five Iron Frenzy. I forgot how Reese Roper is one of, if not my favorite songwriter of all time. I won't go into it much, just let you take it for what you will. I wish you could hear it. If you're interested, it's from the CD "The End Is Here", which has both Five Iron's last CD "The End Is Near", and a live CD of their last show. It's only 14 bucks at Rainbow, but only until the end of the month.
Now, for a change of subject!
There are some people in this world who change your life, simply by coming into contact with you. I've had the pleasure to meet one of these people recently. Rudy Kempf is one of these people. I bought my car from him a few weeks ago, and I've seen him a few times since then. It really hit home tonight though. I had to go with my mom to pick him up from the airport tonight. The thing is, he'd been waiting there for over an hour! I kid you not, the man was as gleeful as a kid getting candy. So we drove him to his home, the whole way he talked happily with my mom. The part that really got me though, was when we got out and he skipped up the curb (really, I'm not making this up) to the door! On the way up to his apartment, he talked about how great the place he lived was. There was one point where he nearly fell on the stairs, but he just laughed and kept going! I don't know. I guess I can't really describe it to you, but I hope you get what I'm saying. The man is almost 90 years old for goodness sakes! He has a joy about him that can only come from The Lord. I hope that someday I can affect someone the way Rudy affected me.
God Bless you.
