To You, I Salute
By:Reggie (Authorninjaearth)

9-22-2008

Heavy waves of shocked overwhelmed me
the aura of sadness that lays over the hearts of others
the reason for their tears, the reason behind the sad words
Tears fall, mouths are silent, people look to the heavens

I didn't know why everyone seemed so down
I didn't know why the messages of sadness
until it hit me like a passing shock wave
It shot into my body, out of my side
Moments went by until the effect hit my heart

Searching, trying to find out the reason they mourned
I went and sought, clicking the small but smooth buttons
searching the screen to tell me why they cry
Suddenly, there came a messenger
tall and meek, but eyes filled with sadness
I knew, then, something had happened

"Oh my gosh...!" My soul cries!
It took a moment to sink in
"Oh no...Ah, man!!" I spurned
My side hurts even more now...

To know that a dear friend
a brother I knew years ago
whom I knew until know
just 2 weeks past til I last saw him
but more recently in day's passing
I remember those times we laughed
and those times that we rejoiced
Just fresh to the farm of the Word
that camp in which soldiers of the Word are trained
that time, we had together, as brothers
As allies, as students...
All was well til we had gone our own ways
Even still, I never forgot his friendship

Yes, even in recent times, we saw each day pass
I saw him there, to the right of the wing
Each time I went through that banana-colored hall
there he sat working hard and about his task
faithful and strong, he was...a great man
But now...I stand there, looking through the glass
All I can see, all I can envision, is that empty seat
He was smiling, I'm sure, but I suddenly see it fade
Now, it's empty, no sound or presence but the seat itself
He's not there anymore...

Now...where does he go?
He goes home to the Father
The Father has called him home
To be absent from the body is to be
present with the Lord
In this, me, friends and family, rejoice together
But we mourn, not as the world does, but as those who have hope
Our hope is eternal and everlasting
Still...though we shall see his face again
we are sadden by this lost...he is no longer here with us
We cannot greet him hello, we cannot hear his voice...
He is...with the Lord...Praise the Lord!!

So I sit here...trying to make sense of this time...
Recognizing that God is still in control
So young, about the same age as I and many of our peers
What does that do to me? It does alot
To know that even where we are now
no-one is guaranteed another day
To know that our lives are in the Father's hand
He does what He pleases
Even to call us home, young or old, we cannot complain
We cannot stop that which must happen
But the mind is troubled, our hearts are wounded
Tears still fall and an explanation is sought
"Why, oh Sovereign Lord, have you done so?"
For the good of those who love God,
those who are called according to His purpose
Shall you, even in this, be glorified?
Yes, you shall be glorified in all things, even in this!

Stand with us oh God!!
Sooth our aching hearts
Wipe away our tears
Let us smile again in the light of your love
Remind us that you are the one who gives
As such, you can take away
We are gentle creatures
We are but dust
Our days are like the wind
We are here today and gone tomorrow
But have mercy on us, oh God, we seek to live
for you

And so, I turn...I turn to that empty seat
I stand behind the glass door
Remembering all you've done
remembering our past and our times together
we both laughed and rejoiced
you were my dear brother
how I wished I couldn't sat down and talked with you more
to find out what blessings God gave you in this life
to find out what wonderful future He had planned for you
But now, I guess I know...
I know that He planned for you to be with him this day

And so I close my eyes, a tear here and there,
the only thing falling from my face is sadness
sad because I will miss you
because I knew you
because you were still my friend
that is something time can't take away from me
Though I am sad, I am also rejoicing
You are free of pain, misery, and even death
You are now in the very presence of Almighty God
You are with our Father in Heaven
You are beholding the face of Jesus Christ
You are rejoicing with the Spirit of the Lord
You are eternally at peace with our God
and enjoying the fruits of the masters glory like our
other brothers and sisters before us

So, to you, my friend, I salute
I salute you because you have finished your face
You have ran your course, you have labored hard
You have left us with your memories, your character
To me, you have left a reminder that I must cherish my friends
that I must be careful not to boast
not to get too proud that I am still young and death is far away
Curse that wretched death, God indeed, has slain you
the resurrection shall prove you wrong
That sting, it hurts us who are alive
Oh God, please come, destroy terrible death
leave us with only life, lest we lose others that we love
So, in my final words, my friend...
I'm proud of you, my brother
We are going to miss you
I will miss you
Thank you sir, for all you've done

So, if you can hear my words from heaven above
then listen well you can
for I just wanted to tell you thank you, once more
tell our brothers and sisters that we, too, shall meet one day
I long to see new faces and old
enjoy the music of heaven and the presence of our God
My mouth is now shut, my tears are gone, but my heart
still flutters in pain, that lasting feeling of sadness is almost past
Hope feels my mind and heart, a smile rises on my face
Praise the Lord, my friend, forever
Thank you for all you've done and stood for
So you, oh mighty soldier, I turn to your post
Empty but shining
My mouth shut, eyes dry, and heart moving
To you, my friend, I salute
Congratulations! Thou are home now!
Fare thee well, for oneday we will meet again
Salute to you, I do...the Lord is our hope and resurrection
Amen, amen, to the Lord...He is forever good

(this poem is dedicated to my friend, Anthony Eldridge, who I learned has gone to glory earlier tonight. May He rest peacefully in God's kingdom! Godspeed my friend; to all his family and friends, we mourn and remember him together, only in the end to see Him rejoicing with the Lord! I'll miss you, sir...praise the Lord who lives forever!!)