Glory-Bound
Standing at the station
Wondering, “Which way do I go?
People rushing everywhere
Surely someone here will know”
“Excuse me, Sir.” I said to one old man
As he went about his day.
“Could you spare a minute?
I think I’ve lost my way.
Caught up in the rush of life,
I don’t know where I’m going.
I want to head the right direction,
But the problem is not knowing.
These tracks, it’s obvious, run north and south,
But where do these tracks end?
I can clearly see along the straight,
But I can’t see round the bend.”
I stopped my babbling and sheepishly grinned,
Awaiting a reply.
The old man looked me up and down
He said, “Child, I’m not going to lie.
There are only two destinations
In this journey we call life.
One of them ends in glory;
The other ends in strife.”
He said, “Look, kid, choose wisely.
Make sure you board the right train,
Because I really doubt that you would want
To pass this way again.”
He saw me cast an anxious glance,
So he stopped to let me speak.
I asked, “How do I catch the right train?
For, tis glory that I seek.”
He asked, “Are you certain?
Is this really your desire?
The track to glory’s long and wearisome.
Are you sure you will not tire?
Many are they who’ve started out
Along this straight and narrow track.
But, few are they who’ve reached the end,
So many have just turned back.
‘The price,’ they said, ‘was just too high.
We could not earn our keep.’
So back they came and off they went
In a direction that made me weep.”
The old man paused and looked away
Tears streaming down his face.
“Why could they not accept my Son?
My gift – amazing grace?
They just had to weather the storms
For I had paid their fare.
Had they’ve put their trust in me,
The train would’ve gotten them there.”
“Child,” he continued, “don’t follow their lead.
You mean so much to me.
I also want you to catch the right train.
Now, what will your decision be?”
“Sir,” I said, “I’m human.
I’m prone to make mistakes.
But, glory’s still my destination.
No matter what it takes.”
“Well,” he said, as a train pulled in,
“Know I’m never far away.
Here’s your ticket. Your fare’s been paid.
I’ll see you round some day.”
With that, he turned and walked away,
Blending in amongst the crowd.
I boarded the train that was glory-bound,
Speechless and utterly WOW-ed.
© Stephen Khu
1 June 2009
