Just a Spoke in the Wheel

(c)Vickey Stamps 6-21-04 08:10

  It was just a ugly old piece of wood, a tree thought of little worth
But yet meant to be important, or would not have been granted birth.
So it lived on watching life pass it by, and cast off what shade it could,
The ugly old piece thought worthless, made of nothing but wood.

  The years rolled by. The wood grew old and in doing so grew quite strong.
It used  itself to advantage, keeping good grains and throwing off wrong.
Then one day a Wood User came and looked on the ugly old tree
And smiling gently upon it spoke, "You're the perfect one for me."

  He cut the tree down with loving care and carted it home that day,
He cast off the bark and cut up the wood in a kind and loving way.
He found what He expected to find, that the wood was as it should be;
It bent with little pressure, and suited the need for such as He

Before very long He had bent it, rectangular and round as He could,
No longer could it be said to be an ugly old piece of wood.
He worked at another purpose, strengthening an important part,
Making the strongest part of the wood a spoke, feeling love from His heart.

  And when the spokes were finished ~ to within the circle place,
He knew He'd soon know victory, and that He'd win the race.
For the wheel would be the moving part that strove for victory;
The spokes made also from mankind, molded from you and me.

  The race would be against Cancer, and would one day be won.
The creator of the wondrous wheel would know His work was further done.
And then more wheels and spokes He'd make, for other races to run
Until at last all illness on earth would be banished away and done.

  Oh such a fine Wood User He was. So much He knew of wood;
For He was the Savior of all mankind, and lived the way He should.
He took what had thought itself worthless, and made it so worthwhile.
He changed the  downcast frowned upon and made them want to smile.

He placed in mankind the worthy goal of loving their fellowman,
All this because of a long ago tree, part of a higher plan.
He knew what would be, before it began, and so was sent to earth.
He was the blessed 'User Of Wood', gave its purpose an ultimate birth.

  And so as the race against Cancer begins, and each spoke is put in place,
May we remember the Wood User, who ran the toughest race;
And prepare ourselves like the spokes we are
for strength from the wheel that was made,
That we may prove our worthiness and not just give off shade.

  May that earthly 'Son Of A Carpenter' ~ life's not have been for naught,
May the result of His gift to us all, make us give as we ought.
As we line up to traipse around the 'Relay Path' meant for us to walk,
May we find strength to make the trip and not just 'talk the talk'.

  Remember the tree was not ugly, and it was not of such little worth,
But intended to be important, or would not have been given birth.
While it once lived watching life go by, and casting what shade it could,
It was never worthless, nor composed of ugly old wood.

  Yes, years rolled by and the wood grew old,
but the Creator had made it strong;
He placed within its being the knowledge to know right from  wrong.
I'm so glad the Wood User came, and looked on that ugly old tree,
And smiling gently upon it spoke, "You 're the perfect one for m."

  Because of those whom He strengthened and gave the need to do more
Those who might have never survived will now walk this earthly shore.
So let us pause a moment, and think of the spokes and the circle round,
And all of us continue on ... till cancer has  been brought down!

  (Finished at 0912 hours)