If By Woodrow Lucas

Rudyard said it best, but now it is my time to build on another’s table, If you can shun the word I can’t, and embrace the phrase, I’m able, If you can watch the world you love, be torn apart and rent asunder, But not give way to hate it, or join in wicked plunder, If you can lose your mind and heart as well, but lift yourself from such that hell, If you can watch your labor tossed aside, but work on despite the pain inside, If you can hear advise from friend and foe, that works to mock your toil true, And yet apply the good that’s said, and rise to climb the mountains new, If you can lose your love when comfort fades, but rage on through that stress, If you can endure the trials of this life, and still not worship tests, If you can achieve the most from Gifts within, yet not give in to greed within, If you can seek to share, and watch your house unravel while others bleed you bare, If you can feel the weight of atlas on your back and see Christ’s body torn, And yet refuse to relinquish hope to see the dawn of earth adorned, If you can love all women but none too much, If you can love all things with open touch, If you can be a fool, and still forgive yourself for errors of your past, If you transcend sin, yet still restrain the pangs to judge your sister’s lapse, If you can run this race with gentle care, yet unafraid to risk it all, If you can fall, and fall again, and yet again, but never lose your faith, If you can run this race, yes sometimes slow, and without reaping still yearn to sow, If you can trust in God, through thick and then, and not give sway to doubt in men, If you can love like Christ, our God above, yet still resolve to confront wrong, If you can see affections wane with time, yet still acknowledge angel’s songs, If can shun all ugly sounds, yet still embrace the beauty that keeps you true, If you can stand all things, and still at end, love you for simply being you, If you can be the gentle sort of old, yet still rebuke with mercy bold, Then you will know the truth of God, Then you will see the life that drives and helps us strive throughout our lives, If you can run this race my son, and love and live despite the cross you bear, Then my son, and only then, you’ll be a Man who dares to dare, To yes believe in God above, And be a vessel of her love.