In Heaven's Gate

There is good and bad in all of us

... sometimes no rhyme, reason for what we do.

Sometimes doing the right thing

... others, going against everything we knew.

Christians, we battle the flesh

... every single day.

What determines the path we take?

... which one most gets its way.

Me? I am a drifter.

... one day this, one day that.

One day nestled in God's bosom

... the next, no idea where I'm at.

You see, beside the straight and narrow road

... there is a very snaky path.

The sum of who I am and who I should be

... just doesn't add up, when I do the math.

The Lord with whom I long to be

... walked that straight and narrow road.

Did not waver, no, not one step

... though he carried the very heavy load.

Of a brother who too often willfully sins

... meanders off the path he should trod.

All too often too woefully weak

... to walk in the steps of God.

And yet, He still loves, still forgives me

... even when I cannot.

Picks me up and whispers

... "Keep walking they're forgot."

And so I go on walking,

... some days straight, narrow and sublime.

Some days stumbling, fumbling in darkness

... soul and spirit out of rhythm, out of rhyme.

But,  I keep on walking

... for I know in the end

Waiting at Heaven's Gate

... is my Lord, brother... friend.

 

Russ Pergram

All for Jesus

All of us are sinners
Lest we should forget
Love's the greatest commandment

Forgive those who sin against us
Obey the golden rule
Return good for evil

Jesus took my place
Even died for my forgiveness
So who am I to judge
Unworthy are we all
Save for God's good grace

 

 Russ Pergram

The Bridge

The bridge is where we used to go
...when we needed to get away
The private place we had
...to think, hope and pray.

Between us we spent
...countless hours there.
Our triumphs, our tragedies
...at the bridge always share.

The bridge is the place
...where we first met.
We first held each other close
...a night I'll never forget.

So many hopes and dreams
... we shared at our spot.
Most have gone away
...abandoned or forgot.

Still, as long as I’m alive,
...until my days are done,
Whenever I think of the bridge
... I'll only think of one.

Though now eyes grow dim
...in my mind still I can see
Your face in the water
... smiling up at me.

Suddenly, your image gone
...no vision do I espy.
As tokens of love
... falling from my eye

Ripple the water
... your vision to replace.
With one of my own
... an old man’s smiling face.

Who, at long last knows
...why the waters always ran so deep.
Because for every generation
...lost love comes here to weep.

Russ Pergram

Garrett's Fork of Big Creek

It seems like only yesterday,
... a young man without a heavy load.
Walked the Garrett's Fork of Big Creek
... upon a then graveled road.

Footprints in the road behind me
... already began to spin the tale.
Of a man who would ponder
... the direction of his trail.

I remember thinking about the future
... how far away 2000 seemed to be.
An eternity away!
... in the summer of 63.

I remember thinking, "Man ,  I'll be old
... in my 50s for sure!"
Then comforted myself with the thought,
... "By then, they'll find a cure!"

But now here I am in my 60s,
... 50s long behind.
January 30, 2012
... and once again I find.

I'm looking back at footprints
... meandering where ever I did roam.
That follow me nearly around the world
... but never away from home.

Home, where my heart is
... where it was in 63.
Garrett's Fork of Big Creek
... where home will always be.

 

 Russ Pergram

Out of Eden

I'm never more relaxed than when
... I'm in the autumn woods.
Where my heart can relax
... ah,  friends, this is the goods!

High atop an old Oak tree
... I'm free from it all.
Away from the humdrum world
... as autumn acorns fall.

Watching the sun rise in the east
... watching it track across western sky.
Twelve hours seem but an instant
... 'til days light, sighs goodbye.

Oh, if only I could live all my life
... in such serenity as this day.
In perfect peace up so high
... nothing could take it away.

Alas, but just as autumn leaves
... are falling all around.
So too I, heart and all
... return to the ground.

Cast out of Eden...

 

 Russ Pergram

How Long

How long does one toss pearls
...'ere one walks away?
How long is enough!
...'ere comes the last day?

How long does one fight?
...against innocent ignorance.
How long does one endure?
...'ere it's time to dispense.

With long-suffering compassion
...patient endurance for the blind.
Oh tell me how long my friend
...'til wisdom they find.

How long does one abide
...'ere children at last awake.
'til they can discern
...truth from what is fake.

How long 'til sadness and sorrow
...are no longer daggers in my chest.
Perceived faults of their father
...at last are laid to rest.

How long must I endure
...'til at last they might see?
Through misconceptions
... of whom think me to be.

I fear not long enough
...in time life supplies.
Perhaps, when I'm laid to rest
...and tears have cleansed their eyes.

 

 Russ Pergram