Except the Days be Shortened

 

 

What does this really mean?

I am not even sure I know,

I know what I have been taught

But that was long ago.

 

A time to come in the future

That is the belief of some:

That this refers to a time to come

Before the return of God’s Son.

 

Others believe it has passed

Way back in New Testament times

And I dare say many today

Are with this view inclined.

 

Whether the former or latter

I am not here concerned

But rather, the fleeting of time

My attention to this is turned.

 

Is 24 hours still a day?

Or has one or two been removed?

The days are flying so fast

It’s difficult to stay in groove.

 

Like a train being derailed

And skidding off the track

And carrying with it its many cars

For yards and yards going back.

 

We just celebrated Christmas

No, not this one, the one before,

And before we could settle down

We have celebrated one more.

 

Christmas comes but once a year

Use to be a popular rhyme

But maybe, it is has become twice

Given the passage of time.

 

 

Another year is almost ended

With just five hours to go,

And no doubt last year this time

Many were saying so.

 

Whether the days are shortened

I cannot really tell

But what I know for a certain fact

Things are happening pell-mell.

 

With undue hurry and confusion

I can scarcely keep apace

But this one thing I intend to do

Is to focus on the Saviour’s face.

 

To trust him in spite of outcomes

Or however precarious the times

And to know with full assurance

I am his and he is mine.

 

 

Join me as we traverse 2022

Keeping our trust in God

While standing firm and resolute

Regardless of who may fall.

 

A Blessed New Year to all!

 

Stewart Russell © December 31, 2021

 

Not for Truth

 

 

You remember we would tell a lie

And then say “not for truth”,

And to show we were just joking

This would be our proof.

 

We wanted to make it clear

That the story was not true

Hence, “not for truth” would follow

And by this everybody knew.

 

I haven’t heard it for a long time

And so, this might be a sign

That everything is the truth

Especially in this time.

 

Because today truth is relative

And I don’t know to what

But that is what I am hearing

And not from a few but quite a lot.

 

We need to bring it back

So that we can know for sure

“Not for truth” means they are joking

Like we would joke before.

 

It is standard these days

To entertain another with a lie

And then convince that person

It's a fact no one can deny.

 

 

Then it spreads like a wild fire

With the claim it is the truth

Whereupon many will swallow it

And add their own proof.

 

How I long to hear “not for truth”

And to know they are joking

Even if I am the unfortunate person

At whom they are poking.

 

You see, I can take a joke

And you know that I can give one

But it is getting really serious

And the jokes are all gone.

 

And I won’t say “not for truth”

Because I am serious this time,

It is time we make clear distinctions

And stop boggling the mind.

 

I heard the other day

Something I could not believe

But since there was no “not for truth”

It spread with bull-cow speed.

 

It turns out it was not true

But the “not for truth” came too late

Whereupon the victim in question

Was left in difficult straits.

 

How I long for a “not for truth”

So that I can dismiss what I hear,

But “not for truth is a thing of the past

And this is the reality I fear.

 

Stewart Russell © December 22, 2021

 

A Virtual World

 

 

One night I went to sleep

Looking forward to the next day,

From the time I knew myself

This was always my way.

 

Then one morning I awoke

And everything had changed,

No kidding, my friend,

Life was all rearranged.

 

The newscaster said,

Welcome to the new norm,

It was as though during the night

There was a great storm.

 

I pinched myself

To wake myself from my dream

And then I realized

It was a virtual scene.

 

 

That Sunday I went to church

Virtually,

We hugged and we kissed

Virtually.

 

The message was delivered

From a virtual platform,

The next Sunday and the next

This was the new norm.

 

Children went to school

But they never left their home,

They received their information

On tablet and cellphone.

 

Those without either

Had to do without,

At least, till the Government

Could work something out.

 

 

People worked from at home

If they had the facility

And most aspects of their work

Were done virtually.

 

People received their salaries

Over the Internet

But of course, there are some

That haven’t gotten theirs yet.

 

Concerning hard earned cash

This was a thing of the past,

It was now bitcoin and I-money

A whole different class.

 

It was a virtual world

Where nothing was real

The Nihilist was in his own niche

While others were in a daze.

 

When people could not pay

They paid virtually

And since nothing was real

They did it repeatedly.

 

 

However, there were times

When to court they were Zoomed

And the settlement was virtual

Just like you assumed.

 

It reminded me of a time

When we played as children,

Everything was imaginary

But for some, this was a problem.

 

The feigned lashes got real

And you felt real pain,

And your intention there and then

Was never to play again.

 

We are coming full circle

To our childhood again

Where now, as full-grown adults,

We are playing childhood games.

 

Only that now, it is not a game,

It is actually virtually real

And any who refuses to play

Must be prepared to fail.

 

Virtual Easter, Crop-Over

And Christmas,

The real as we once knew it

Is passing away fast.

 

 

Think of a young child

Growing up in this new age,

Virtually wrong could be right

At some imminent stage.

 

Most of what was unacceptable

Could become acceptable

And we could very well do away

With the Holy Bible.

 

Realities could differ

Depending on whose reality

And everything could be right

In our new reality.

 

There’s no doubt in my mind

The floodgates are breached

And the virtual is becoming the real

Even as I speak.

 

COVID-19 is virtual,

No doubt some would say

But between you and me,

The experiences are real.

 

 

Whether we will ever go back

We can only wait and see

But for now, at this present time,

This virtual is our reality.

 

Stewart Russell © December 21, 2021

        

 

It’s Gone! It’s Coming!

 

It’s gone!  It’s gone!

Christmas Day is gone,

With that there’s a new focus

As the New Year dawns.

 

Old Year’s night is nigh

And the Bajan spirit is high

But there are still protocols

And so, we must comply.

 

COVID is under control,

It at least appears that way

And as we celebrate, I pray,

From this we do not sway.

 

But besides COVID-19

Something else is in the air,

It’s election time in Barbados

The PM has made this clear.

 

January 19 is the date

With Nomination Day the 3^rd,

By now every single Barbadian

Should have already heard.

 

 

Many have been caught

With pants below the waste,

Some will view this suddenness

With nothing but distaste.

 

The reality is, However,

Barbadians must decide

Whether to retain the Government

Or on a new rely.

 

Whatever the people decide

The PM will give her support,

This is in essence what she said

According to a news report.

 

So, it’s gone!  It’s gone!

Christmas Day is gone,

And before its after-effects settles

An election day will dawn.

 

Do enjoy Old Year’s night

And do so with common sense,

At church or otherwise

Do not be an offense!

 

Maintain the protocols

Do not let your guard slip,

So that contrary to popular opinion

COVID will soon be licked.

 

Christmas Day is gone

And New Year’s Day is near

But on the horizon of Barbados

Election Day appears.

 

Stewart Russell (9) December 28, 2021

 

 

Three Kings

 

 

Three Kings are mentioned

Two in the book of Luke,

No doubt in your mind

Emerges a certain dispute.

 

Whether there were three

Or whether more

So, let me hasten very quickly

To close that door.

 

The kings bearing gifts

Are not what I am about,

You have gone into Matthew

Without any doubt.

 

So, back to Historian Luke

Two are recorded there:

Not the kings mentioned in Matthew

But the two right here.

 

In Luke chapter 2

Let us take note of the first,

At this juncture of world history

This one is immersed.

 

 

And it came to pass

Meaning this is no fairy tale,

Since Caesar Augustus was the King

We know this account is real.

 

Rome was the world power

The Fourth one up to this time,

And as we consider these Kings

We must bear this in mind.

 

The Emperor Caesar Augustus

Ruled over the earth

And this was the time in History

Of another king’s birth.

 

Jesus the King of all kings

Came forth in the fulness of time

Born of a royal family;

King David comes to mind.

 

 

 

Caesar was deluded!

There was one greater than he,

This being was around

For as long as eternity.

 

He was omnipotent, omniscient

And all-knowing as well

And he was the reason

Why all the other kings fell.

 

He sets up kingdoms

And he takes them down,

You could ask many former kings

But they are no longer around.

 

That’s King #1 and King #2

And off we go to King #3

Who is not mentioned in Luke

But in Matthew we see.

 

 

That is King Herod

And he was a vassal of Rome

And hence, certain policy decisions

He dared not make on his own.

 

He was a puppet king,

Just like in Sesame Street

And he reigned over Jerusalem

But at Caesar’s feet.

 

Three kings at this time

But two were greatly deluded

Yet history has recorded

The greatest was excluded.

 

Jesus, the King of kings

In Bethlehem’s manger lay

But neither Caesar nor Herod knew

That he was the only way.

 

 

Seek him while he may be found

Call upon him now he is near,

There is a Christmas coming

When he will again appear.

  

This time to judge the world

Over which he is King

And not a king then or before

Will be able to do a thing.

 

With whom do you stand?

You will be standing in vain

If you are not standing with Jesus

When he comes again.

 

Stewart Russell © December 26, 2021

 

It’s Christmas Day!

 

 

The day we’ve been waiting for

Is finally upon us!

It’s Christmas Day, my friends,

Let’s celebrate Jesus.

 

Remember one and all,

He is the Reason!

The reason for what?

This wonderful Christmas Season.

 

The food, the fun, the fanfare:

All of these are great,

But none so accomplished as

What Jesus did for our sake.

 

From a cradle in Bethlehem,

To a cross at Calvary,

And by his glorious resurrection

He brings hope to you and me.

 

A hope that is as certain

As this today, Christmas Day,

When we celebrate his first advent

In so many wonderful ways.

 

I will be brief today;

Thanks for your time,

In the midst of your celebrations

Keep Jesus on your mind.

 

Thank you for your support

All through this year!

Your comments, my readers,

Brought me much cheer.

 

 

Have a Christ-filled Christmas

With your family and friends,

I will certainly do as much

From my own end.

 

Do not waste a single moment,

The day goes so fast

And before you know it

It is quickly past.

 

Again, thanks for your patronage,

Have a wonderful day!

And do enjoy this Christmas season

In every wholesome way!

 

Stewart Russell © December 25, 2021

 

It’s Christmas Eve

 

 

Hi there, family!

Biological and otherwise,

Christmas Eve greetings to you all:

The familiar, not so familiar

And the disguised.

 

You have come through the year

Up to Christmas Eve,

Do not spoil it now,

I beg you, please!

 

So many things can go wrong

At this rushed hour time,

There’s that last-minute list

Weighing heavily on your mind.

 

But tomorrow is not the end

And neither is today

So please don’t leave your head at home

Even if it usually gets in your way.

 

Try not to multitask

When using our highway,

It should never ever be done,

But especially today.

Concentrate on your driving

And when walking the street,

Be aware of all that is around you

And be very discreet.

 

There are myriad reasons

Why people are out there

And all of them are not legit

So, please be prepared!

 

And you at home,

I have a caution for you,

You don’t need a woodfire now

To cook you and your stew.

 

I put it euphemistically

But maybe I should spell it out,

Please do not create a fire

That you can’t put out.

 

We are into fire season

And I don’t mean cane fires,

So, throwing caution to the wind

Will get you deep in the mire.

 

Finally, I beg you,

Stay home if you can,

Don’t just go out for the excitement

And ill-fate fan.

 

It’s no use taking a gamble

Just for one single day

And then living with the regret

All the rest of your days.

 

There’s life after Christmas

It’s not the end of the world,

It’s Christmas Eve, family,

Don’t be absurd!

 

To have the best of Christmas

You must live to enjoy it,

So, if danger is your business

It is high time you quit.

 

Have a Christ-filled Christmas!

For, what is Christmas without Christ?

It would be like deriving zero benefit

After the greatest sacrifice.

 

Stewart Russell © December 24, 2021