But Still I Wait

A VOICE FROM THE PAST,
AND AN UPDATE

 

CIRCA 1935:
The strings of camels come in single file,
Bearing their burdens o're the desert sand;
Swiftly the boats go plying up the Nile,
The needs of man are met on every hand;
But still I wait--
For the messenger of God who cometh late.

I see the cloud of dust rise to the sky,
The measured tread of troops falls on my ear;
Again, the foreign soldier marches by,
Bringing the pomp of war, the reign of fear;
But still I wait--
For the messenger of God who cometh late.

I sit here looking o're the ancient waste,
Where broodeth terror as the darkest night;
From many a mosque I hear the call to prayer,
But, nothing changes, nothing heals my plight;
But still I wait--
For the messenger of God who cometh late.

UPDATE:
So, I immigrate to L.A. and Detroit,
To seek my fortune and a life of ease;
This life is good, with richness to exploit,
Yet, something's missing-- I can feel no peace;
And still I wait--
For the messenger of God who cometh late.

Peace for the Middle East you say?
Only the Prince of Peace to them can give,
What of the six million Arabs in the USA?
Who brings us Christ that we might live?
Next door I wait--
For the messenger of God I wait...

and wait...

and wait...

From the soul of Ishmael, Abraham's first son-- Your neighbor

Author of original poem unknown
Update - Steve Van Nattan & Mary Van Nattan

The population of Middle Eastern people (not including the Jews) in the U.S.A. is greater than the combine populations of the United Arab Emerites and Kuwait. It has been said that the farther a Muslim gets from Mecca the easier it is to win him to Christ. What are you doing about it?

Genesis 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

 

background & graphics by Mary Stephens
updated 2019