Ode to a Man in a Park

A greasy bag of fish and chips in hand,

A chap makes his way to the storybook tree

Never knowing that today, in the shadow of the tree,

He will have an encounter with Eternity.

The lack of the usual rainy day allows him to consider another way

The sunny noontime beckons him to break his routine,

Enjoy the warmth, savor the moment.

But as he heads out, he has no idea that God plans to meet him today

Who is this man? No one special.

Just a man in a park.

A man in a park who God knows by name

And loves despite the man’s ennui.

He arrives at the park.

Watches the children play as their nanny looks on.

Sees the beautiful flowers

Hears the sound of children’s laughter

Not noticing the storybook tree

Not knowing its story.

Not caring.

Two men are honored by the storybook tree.

Two authors who through stories impacted men’s destinies.

For from the carved book rises timeless figures.

Smaug, a dragon desolated by a hobbit. Aslan, the valiant king lion.

Both authors, both stories give glimpses of eternity.

And this man sits in their shadow,

Never knowing their story.

Never wanting to know their God.

But then, the encounter happens.

A messenger comes.

His faith is questioned

Faith that so long ago he snuffed out

Because what kind of God would let him hurt as he has?

No, he replies, I’ve never seen God,

So why should I believe that he exists?

The messenger gives a reply.

“You cannot see the wind, but you can feel its effects.

You cannot see God, but you can feel His effects.”

Discussion lingers as his lunch time ticks away.

“One must seek God,” he says,

“And I do not have time for that.”

Not realizing that God, the Hound of heaven, is seeking him.

His lunch time finished, he turns to leave.

The wind caresses his cheek.

Eternity beckons.

Yet he walks away, 

Too busy with this life to consider the next.

Just a man in a park

In the shadow of the storybook tree.