For Kevin

Who is God?

No, really.......who is God?

I must have asked that question for

nearly 60 years.

Not out loud of course...

   after all I’m a Christian and being

a Christian .... that is, a good Christian,

means I have it all figured out, right?

But then came Kevin, he opened the

the door so wide, I could suddenly

be allowed, to Ask the Question.

Who is God?

And no, he didn’t have the answer.

He had hints to the puzzle.

But   when you ask the question,

He said .... Live it!  Live the question.

When I began "Living the Question!

a whole new world of understanding seemed to come clear.

At first... I was so scared.

Scared that the foundation...

That had been built piece by piece in

a little Baptist church in Rushville Indiana, would not take the questions. That the foundation for my faith was surly going to crumble.

If Jesus did this and God did that, or

didn't do that but maybe did this

how   can "I believe"

But learning from Kevin to ask the question and to realize I just may not find

the answer filled my life with peace.

Stone by stone, brick by brick, I took the tools that Kevin taught me and firmed

up faith’s foundation.

We studied Dr. Seuss and I  began to see my  faith in a different light.  We read

books on the Beatles and Mr. Rodgers and felt their struggles and

accomplishments with faith. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Sometimes Kevin would make us color or write or build with Playdough  and always we would leave

class with a better understanding of who God is.

We have  always been taught that the Bible is the inspired word of God. 

When Kevin taught I always

felt his words were coming from above.  I know God inspired him and he in turn

inspired others through education, through youth work, through all the people he

touched daily.

Yes, I still question. But knowing

I may not find the answers is ok.

Because of Kevin, I believe.

   

                                                                                                                 Stephen Jeffries

Dave's Empty Chair

I stand there....looking at the empty chair.
He  was silenced too soon, 
 
I look out to faces,
                                 friends..
people  I love.    Can I sing? How can I even see through the tears?  How can  the music go on?
I stand there looking at the empty chair.....
And I sing.

Singing  about God's love. 
I believe.
                 even when God is silent.

He believed. 
                      He believed in God.
He believed in hope. 
He believed in love. 
He believed  in a  God
               that loved all His children
                      no matter who they loved.

I will forever miss his humor. I will  forever be filled  with memories and the comfort in my soul of knowing my life is changed because I knew Dave.

I stand there....
              looking at the empty chair.
Tears will dry but I am certain his smile will remain on our hearts.

Yes I will sing...  because in singing God's love 
                 .....his song goes on.
           

 

 

I LOVE A REDBIRD                  by Stephen J. Jeffries

 

I still feel full of wonder,

       when I see a redbird.

Nestled in a tree branch

       fitting like a glove.

I pause to  ask the question.

Did God's love seed the tree branch

        for nesting tiny birds.

Or if God grew the birds

       all dress in hue and color

to orniment the  tree.

I still feel the wonder,

      when I see a child of God

Stepping in the world

so full of urge and beauty.

I pause to ask the question.

Did God's love design the children

to occupy the world.

Or did God shape the earth

as home and substance

for the children of design.

Winged Bird

                                  Winged Bird                              Stephen J. Jeffries

                        Oh to be a winged bird,
                                 flying free above God's land.
               
                           Soaring just beneath the clouds
                                  sculpted with God's mighty hand.

                            Mountains high,
                                                       Valleys low!

                             Singing songs of praise and love,
                                      flying free above God's land.

                             Oh to be a winged bird
                                     flying to the angel's home.

                              Trees reach up,
                                                          clouds rain down
                               on the beauty we call earth.
                               
                                Oh to be a winged bird,
                                        flying free above God's land.

                                Nested in a tall oak tree.
                                surrounded by the awe and splendor
                                                                   of God's earth community.


                                Oh to be a winged bird
                                                flying free above God's land.

                               

For Ken

In life, aged and full
                 friendship is privileged and scarce. 
If real and true it will be lasting,
         beyond the grave,
               beyond the soft simmering sunsets,
the heart holds it like a treasure
                            more valuable than gold.

Heaven gives us hope of reunion,
                But  Friendship doesn't need reunion,
Friendship never leaves the heart or soul,
                               never passes to the grave but
stays inside the memories and goodness
                      left on my brow like a piece of art
or architecture, brilliant in color and form
                               filling my soul with warmth.
I grieve.
My tears say good by,. 
But my sadness is mostly for me
              because the loss of your grin and smile
seems beyond the limits of my existence.

Dear friend, I celebrate your fresh
and honest love
                   shared and cultivated.
I could never let you go,
But as you move forward, free from pain,
I bid my love and friendship .
I walk taller
         and love stronger and smile wider
                                                 because you are.

Phu Cat AB 1970..July 4th

It 1970 on the fourth of July 1970. I was station at Phu Cat Air Base in the middle of a terrible war. I was proud to be an Air Force administrative assistant. Pretty safe except for an occasional bomb that came across our well protected perimeter. It was a holiday so our food was abundant, almost to the point of embarrassment , when there were so many hungry people out side out gates. My friends and I were walking up the pitch dark dirt path as we began to realize it was the Fourth Of July. We were all used to the annual fireworks display. We were almost happy that our evening was free of bombs and explosions. Thst precisely at midnight we saw a flair go up at the perimeter gate. Than another than another. Before long the flairs formed a complete circle around our base. It was the security police who were faithful in keeping us safe that were stationed around the perremiter. It brought tears to my eyes and reminded me that we were being protected by some pretty brave men. It seemed this is whst freedom and the celebration of the fourth of July is all about. To this day when I see spectacular firework displays, I can't help but remember this night in the middle of a war and how blessed we as a nation are. [ ]