Gentle Shepherd

Title: Request for Transfer TO: Commander and Chief Spiritual Armed Forces, Jesus Christ

Dear Lord; I am writing this to You to request a transfer to a job I can do from my rocking chair. I here with present my reasons: I began my career as a private, but because of the intensity of the battle You have quickly moved me up in the ranks. You have made me an officer and given me a tremendous amount of responsibility. There are many soldiers and recruits under my charge. I am constantly being called upon to dispense wisdom, make judgments, and find solutions to complex problems. You have placed me in a position to function as an officer, when in my heart I know I have only the skills of a private. I realize that You have promised to supply all I would need for the battle. But Sir, I must present You a realistic picture of my equipment. My uniform, once so crisp and starched, is now stained with tears and blood of those I have tried to assist. The soles of my boots are cracked and worn from the miles I have walked trying to enlist and encourage the instructed troops. My weapons are marred. tarnished and chipped from constant battle against the enemy. Even the Book of Regulations I was issued has been torn and tattered from endless use. The words are now smeared. You have promised You would be with me throughout, but when the noise of the battle is so loud and the confusion is so great, I can neither see nor hear You. I feel so alone. I'm tired. I'm discouraged. I have Battle Fatigue. I would never ask You for a discharge. I love being in Your service. But I humbly request a demotion and transfer. I'll read my regulations and pray in spiritual battle in my rocking chair. As you know I am now 61 years old and I have lots of experience in my rocking chair, as I have been rocking since I could sit up. In fact l Lord as you know my mother spent a lot of time rocking me when I was still in her womb, so as you know it is a natural for me. Just get me out of the battle on the field -- please, Sir. You Faithful, but tired, Warrior.
Karen

Rocking Chair Years

I vaguely remember my rocking chair years
When Mama would rock me to sleep.
I'd hear my dear mama hum lullabies
And ask God my soul for to keep

She always would rock me and hold me so close
And hummed in the sweet voice I know
That old rocking chair was a comfort to me
As God helped my spirit to grow

When I was a teen I would sit in the chair
And rock as I pondered my life
God was my anchor, the hand holding mine
As I sat and I rocked in the night

When as a new mother I'd sit and I'd sing
To my child as the chimes of time rang
The rocking chair again was a focus of life
As I'd rock him and hymns to him sang

Now I'm alone and life's passing by
The silence of time fills the air
I sit and I rock and I reminisce
In my mama's old rocking chair

The rocking chair years, from the cradle to grave
'Neath the shelter of God's loving hands
I can still feel the touch of my mama so dear
As she rocked...singing, Oh, Come Angel Band

By: Jene' Lind
4-20-02