On the Bench

On a cold snowy New York morning
enveloped in a veil of gray sky
I set out for a walk in the the crisp air
to clear the cobwebs out of my mind's eye

As downcast as the weather around me
my mood echoing around in my head
I walked the streets of my surrounding neighborhoods
instead of being home tucked away in my bed
As I walked through the park in one neighborhood
an oasis in the center of town square
I found a man all alone on a bench
that I didn't expect to be sitting there
The man patted the bench, "come and join me"
as a smile brought the sun to his face
he then brushed off the snow right beside him
and I found myself settling into the space
What brings you out on this dismal, bleak morning?
You look as if you carry the weight of the world
Unburden yourself if you care to
and I promise no stones will be hurled
So there we sat - two strangers together
with the snow just beginning to fall
and I thought that I shouldn't say anything
I shouldn't utter one word at all
Yet there was just something about his demeanor
there was serenity in this man's calming tone
and the tears began to well up inside me
and I felt the weariness drain the strength from my bones
You see, I haven't done much in this lifetime
Success has been elusive to me
While others have money and travel
I've done nothing of prominency

I found myself saying

The home that I have has no grandeur
My clothes lack a designer name
My fingers and ears bear no gemstones
and oftentimes I feel rejection and shame
The man sat there saying nothing
with his hands clasped tight in his lap
than a tear trickled down the man's cheekbone
and as he removed his woolen blue cap
he said weep not woman for I am with you
and have been with you every day of your life
You must open your eyes to what is important
for your words cut my heart like a knife
You see the things of this life are malignant
to the welfare of someone's soul
for a life should not be measured by trinkets
or by the weight of sterling silver or gold

Did you not awake in your own house this morning?
Eat, and have something to wear?
Do you not have a family to love you
or a friend with whom things can be shared?
Does the Father not provide for all creatures
in the air, on the ground, in the sea?
Does he not love all of his children?
Will he not love you for all eternity?
You know the answers to the questions I ask you
he said as I dabbed at my trickling tears
You have everything you need in this lifetime
so be thankful and be of good cheer

For you cannot serve both God and money
for both lead you on a different path
To let go of your material yearnings
is like separating fine wheat from the chaff
If you center your life around the Father
then all things will fall into place
You'll find the peace in your heart that you're craving
and He will fill you with every grace

As he spoke this the snow ceased it's dancing
and the man took a hold of my hand
and as the sun tried to break through the grayness
I knew this man was a part of God's plan

This wasn't a random encounter
for he knew all about God and his love
He was my very own Guardian Angel
who had come to help me from heaven above

An original work of poetry by Marianne E. Hare copyright 02/10