A poem from my friend, Todd

This is a poem that my friend, Todd M. Murden, wrote (I added the sub-title in a move of blatant plagiarism).

I think that it is a great story and I wanted to share it, as I think it inspires people to desire a transformed life. I hope that you enjoy it!


“His Story, our Story"
(A man talks to a boy about life while crossing a rope-bridge leading to the boy's home)

There was once an orphan boy
who lived down the street from me.
He had never seen a play
nor heard any kind of story.
“Remedy that we must,” I said
And with a nod did he agree.
So I began to tell of him and I,
And how we came to be.
(“Ahem,” I cleared my throat to start.)
“The Three in One began with a desire in His heart.
To have a people all his own, a people set apart.
In his mind did he conceive,
All that was and is and is to be.
God knelt down and dirtied his lips to breathe
The breath of life and man conceive.
And from His breath man was brought forth like a dream
To enhance the glory of the One, Yahweh Elohim.
Soiled again his lips would be,
not for Him but thee,
when hence His image and likeness would choose
to kiss a lie and forever lose,
that life that first his breathe supplied,
eternal life, glory, and all, denied.
Good and evil from thence ensued
To encompass all that man should choose.
Glory for that which is not glory exchanged,
For this, our redemption, would He be famed.”
He stomped his feet and shook his fist,
“It makes no sense, if I could just
reach out and grab them they would see
their wrong action, their stupidity.”
“Yes, my child, this is true, this is a very strange thing indeed.
But none could quench our Makers love nor any power impede.”
“And so,” I continued, “as you see,
this is not exactly a story of you and me,
But a story told from the One above,
The story of our Makers steadfast and unfailing love.”
“Where was I again?” I mused.
“Oh yes, ‘Good and evil from thence ensued’…”
“A lie kissed, a lie believed,
Such was the fall of man conceived.
Creation along with him it came,
Pulled by the tide, the undercurrent of shame.
Such would its progress, towards shame, be,
An act of uncreation, and judgement you see.
But ‘Rich in Mercy,’ is one name he bears
And for all his creation, and his beloved, he cares.
Covenants, and promises, to all he provided,
To Noah, Abraham, and David he ensighted,
To be their God, and they his people,
From them, his own, would he make his steeple.
Living stones they are called, a temple of Presence,
A promise and blessing to go forth hence
To all of creation, let the nations rejoice
For our God and King has made his choice.
He will plead our case and establish our right
Be in awe of his mercy, justice, and foresight.
“But cold and stiff necked his people would be,
“He is taking a long time, why can we not see?”
They said, “his arm too short. We have no right and no way,
Nothing but silence from the Prophets, no one to say,
‘The word of the Lord I have, come hear,’
Silence, all silence, to Your heart are we dear?”
And in this silence, heaven breathed deep in awe,
As God, the Word, came forth, to crawl.
Not like the serpent, but as a child he came,
The fullness of God, and man, the same.
Holding their breath, the angels they cry,
‘Behold Immanuel, a baby, born to die.’
The sick are healed, and the blind they see,
“But the Son of Man,” the Father says, “He came for me.
To reveal my heart, to lay it bare to the world
Because on him would my wrath be poured.
Peace to you, my peace I proclaim,
I have come to free you from your sin, guilt, and shame.
Listen to me, all who will hear,
I am drawing you, and all creation, I am drawing you near!”
And so, the Son of God, Jesus, he came
To show the Father’s love and bear the blame.
The hosts and the heavens were silent and hushed
When, for the sins of man, the Son was crushed.
“How could this be done for me?
I have never had a father or family…”
I knelt down and looked my friend in the eye,
“This is what love does, it does not pass by,
When in need it sees its own to be,
It supplies all, gives all, out of its capacity.”
“The cross, the cross!” He danced and cried.
“There I see the Son, my Savior, my life, he died.”
And with all his heart, did my friend he sing
Of our Savior’s love, ‘where, O death, is thy sting’?
“One more thing,” I said, “One more thing to know,
Our God, and Father, did this to show,
The richness of his kindness and grace,
We now, in Christ, get a foretaste
Of what’s to come in life without end,
When we will be one with our Father and spend
All our days searching the treasures of his heart
Walking perfectly in His Spirit, knowing fully, not in part.
Jesus rose from the dead, He’s alive you see,
And he is inviting you in, inviting you into the family.”
“I always thought life to be a great story,
Told by a Story Teller, with adventure and glory.”
And smiling did my friend he say,
“With him, my Jesus, I await the day,
When the life intended but our sin denied
Eternal life, glory, and all supplied.
For me, for me, I can’t believe.
A child of God? A family?
An orphan all my life I’ve been,
A slave of doubt, unbelief, and sin.
Now, to Thee, my good Father, I cry,
I do not wish for this love to pass me by.
As Thee gave, all, I lay,
Before Thy throne of grace I say,
‘Jesus Christ is Lord of all indeed,
To Him all glory and honor proceed.
This will be the shout of all,
When in the end, before thy throne, we fall.”
And this my charge to thee, Beloved,
Can you in this way receive
The glory of this gracious love
Hung upon a tree?
For it is this love, the Crucified,
He, so longs to pour
Into thy heart, His indwelling Spirit,
With thee forevermore.
Like a child, Beloved, you must be,
To marvel at this great wonder, for His and our glory.

Todd M. Murden
Winter 2010