An "Unmarked" Grave

 An “Unmarked” Grave

The invitations came less often

  and the world seemed to be passing him by

His heart remained full of the fire of his call

  an ever-certain sense of destiny and purpose

Still the feeling of accomplishments unfinished

  goals and ambitions not yet achieved

And the very lingering ponderings

  Did he do enough? Did he make a difference?

  Had the missteps nullified the life-long pursuits?

Brief moments of prayerful reflection

  would remind him, reassure him, redirect him

None of it was ever about him

  though admittedly the attention

  was often deeply satisfying, rewarding

But certainly, heeding the call, giving up all

  should give some satisfaction, some fulfillment

Truly all so fleeting in the grand scheme

  God’s plan, God’s purpose, God’s providence

The Potter and the clay

  molding him however He might choose

  simply asking him to trust and obey

Would not seem too difficult for a heart

  totally surrendered, totally His

“Ay, there’s the rub.”

What does “total” mean, look like?

  is it obtainable in this broken world, this broken life?

 Reflecting on these things, he finds himself

  meandering through a cemetery

  glimpsing at one headstone and another

Every name tells a story, a life, a family, a history

  but there remain few who remember the telling

He knows that it will be true for him one day

  maybe one generation hence or possibly two

    no one left to tell his story

Apart from grand figures in history

  kings, generals, statesmen, artists, writers

  truly, even most of these fade

    into the realm of the forgotten

There might be a name on our grave

  while ever “unmarked” in humanity’s narrative

As sobering this is to our core

  he knows that this is not a place of despair

For time may be marked by cemeteries,

  headstones, crypts and mausoleums

Eternity records all in a most distinct way

  a register, a book, a scroll

And the Lamb on the Throne opening the Book

  with his name in it and many others

  not remembered in this transient world

And one day, maybe sooner than later,

  he will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

 

mark d. cooke, 9-13-24, inspired by a dear brother