But One Step

 

 

Some plan for a year

Some, a month or a week,

One day at a time for me

Is changing as I speak.

 

A week is much to chew

Far less a month or year,

I had become settled on a day

In life’s fret and care.

 

Now, it is but one step,

One step, at a time for me,

This is the lot I can deal with-

I’m getting older you see.

 

But one step as I see it

Is the smart thing to do,

There’s no living in tomorrow

For neither me nor you.

 

 

I recall that ancient hymn

“His eye is on the sparrow”,

But one step in the second verse

Doesn’t speak of tomorrow.

 

It is of a constant walk

With one’s best friend ever,

This is none other, my friend

Than Jesus, the Saviour.

 

For by the path he leads,

It is but one step at a time

And, if faithful to his guidance,

The best of life we’ll find.

 

Plan a year if you must

Or even a month or week

But remember, as you plan,

God’s will you must seek.

 

For me it is but one step

Or I would go astray,

For the truth of the matter is,

I do not know the way.

The longest journey ever

Began with a single step

And without that initial move

Success could not be met.

 

It’s one step I reiterate

However innovative a man,

Even Jesus took a first step

In our salvation plan.

 

Stop tomorrow’s worry

Today has enough of its own,

Concentrate on that one step;

It’s one step going home.

 

Stewart Russell © December 21, 2023

 

Going Home

One of these days I’ll be gone

I’ll be on my way home,

Exactly when I’ll arrive there

To me that is still unknown.

My flight is already booked

And I have my visa too,

I’ve gone through immigration

My departure is in view.

Perhaps you are wondering

“Why this morbid thought?”

It’s because of recent happenings

It’s what death has wrought.

Many of my acquaintances

Are passing off the scene

Friends also and relatives

Yielding to death’s horrid scheme.

All around me they are falling

And I wonder who is next,

Still I am not overwhelmed

Though my appointed time is set.

I’m a little tired of funerals

They’re coming much too fast

And trying to attend them all

Is quite a daunting task.

Right now there are three

Three weeks ago I attended four

And taking that on average

There’s likely to be some more.

With the old it’s to be expected

But young limes are dropping too,

The old, the young and in between

The next one could be you.

Read the preceding verse again

And I trust that you would see

“The next one could be you”

Is pointing straight back at me.

  

This has been the trend

For over the last four years,

A funeral each week

Or on average quite near.

Hence you can now see

Why death is on my mind,

With my friends going so fast

I am thinking of my time.

But while I fear the unknown

It is not a hopeless fear

For I belong to Jesus

And to me that is very clear.

I have been born again

I’ve been washed in Christ’s blood

My sins are all forgiven

And in Jesus I am good.

I know that if I should die

Before this day is gone

I will be going home with Jesus

I won’t be going alone.

When I will I arrive there

I really don’t know

But my Lord will take care of that

Yes, he told me so.

“I go to prepare a place for you,”

That is what he said

And the only way I could live again

Is if I were dead.

Stewart Russell © October 2018