This poem, by Kyle Ater, masterfully reminds us to be attentive listeners to God’s voice.  Kyle will be leaving us for college in Indiana at the end of the summer.  I am thankful he agreed to share this poem with us.  Others of you, from time to time, have been kind enough to share pieces you have put your hearts and prayers into.  I want to remind you that we welcome such gifts, and as we have opportunity, ill be eager to share them with the rest of the family.

 

DOYUHS NDOYA

 

I was born again and freed from sin;

I spoke to God and lived for Him.

I spoke to Him that very day

And every night I went to pray;

And this is what I would say:

 

“Lord, I love you.”

God spoke “Doyuhs Ndoya.”

 

I pushed the world with tooth and nail

I knew with God I could not fail

I kept my faith and knew my way

And every night I went to pray;

And this is what I would say:

 

“Lord, I love you.”

God spoke “Doyuhs Ndoya.”

 

The world fought back, as some would guess.

And drained my passion; and made me rest.

At first I thought they’d be my prey.

And I went to the Lord - I had to pray;

And this is what I would say:

 

“Lord, I still believe.”

God spoke “Doyuhs Ndoya.”

 

I still fought on, though not as hard.

It’s tough to fight when you’ve been marred.

The world was succeeding in leading astray.

But I still had the power to pray.

And this is what I would say:

 

“Lord, I try hard.”

God spoke “Doyuhs Ndoya.”

 

The time fast approaching, not much more to be done,

It looked like the world was winning this one.

But how could I leave - how could I betray

The One I had prayed to every day.

So here’s what I say:

 

“Lord, I regret it.”

God spoke “Doyuhs Ndoya.”

 

So as I laid there, with death at my bed,

Millions of thoughts just ran through my head.

There wasn’t much time ‘til I’d pass away.

I did something unusual on this very day.

I just waited in silence.

And so I heard

 

“You walked with Me and talked with Me.

You laughed for joy and jumped with glee.

When times got hard, you tried to stay

You weren’t the first to be led astray.”

 

“Listen to My voice, young man.

Here, let Me take you by the hand

So you can feel how tight I’ve held

While shouts against Me you still yelled.”

 

“Did you hear my voice, young man?

Could you fully understand

What I’ve been saying all these years?

Ask me again, man, and open your ears.”

 

So the man said, with a raspy voice

The words he spoke when he was a boy

He remembered them long, remembered them well

Remembered them vividly, it was almost a yell

 

“Lord, I love you.”

And God spoke,

This time so he could hear,

 “Do you, son? Do you?”

                                    - by Kyle Ater

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