" You Never Walk Alone "

I'm just a simple preacher
A humble man of God
I minister a small Methodist Church
Along the outskirts of Cape Cod
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But my faith had grown so weary
In this world filled with fear
I guess I needed reassurance
That God is really here
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I decided to go camping
Where the mountains turn and wind
I thought the solitude of it's beauty
Might help to clear my mind
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It was all so very peaceful
Clearly nature at it's best
But I some how still felt empty
I had found no answers to my quest
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Then hiking across those endless trails
I got some how turned around
Nothing looked familiar
With silence the only sound
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I went back the way I came
But my mind felt thrown and tossed
My thoughts soon turned to dread
I knew that I was lost
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The days were hot , the nights were cold
I shivered and shook until dawn
Three days I wandered these mountains
My food and water gone
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I had gone as far as I could go
Feeling lost within a nightmare
I knelt before the morning sky
Then bowed my head in prayer
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Dear Lord in Heaven
Hear my prayer upon this day
I'm lost within these mountains
Please send an angel to guide my way
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Once my prayer had ended
I slowly opened my eyes
Only to find a man before me
I was shaken by surprise
-
I hadn't heard his foot steps
Nor any kind of sound
Are you an angel, I had to ask
While still kneeling on the ground
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Now do I look like an angel
He chuckled with a grin
Would an angel be short and fat
With hair both gray and thin
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He looked in his early fifties
With glasses setting on his nose
His boots both scuffed and worn
And wearing casual cloths
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Even I now had to laugh
As he helped me to my feet
Then led me to some nearby shade
Where we both then took a seat
-
He carried a nap sack on his back
Which he had quickly shaken loose
Then he gave me a jelly sandwich
And a bottle filled with juice
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He said his name was Jerry
And he didn't mean to pry
But he had overheard my prayer
As he was hiking by
-
While we rested in the shade
For an hour we just talked
Jerry had grown up in these mountains
And these trails he often walked
-
He said just to pass the time
He likes to hike and roam
But his wife does volunteer work
So each night he walks her home
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As Jerry led me back to camp
He said I know you felt defeated
But the Lord walked with you every step
Providing all that you had needed
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He pointed to a trickling stream
It was less than fifty yards away
And along the very path I walked
Berry bushes lay
-
Then in a tree along the trail
Who's branches hung quite low
He showed me a nest with 3 small eggs
Belonging to a crow
-
You have wood to build a fire
To keep you warm at night
I was feeling quite embarrassed
I knew that he was right
-
Jerry led me to my camp
Just as the sun was getting low
Then he said my wife will soon be off
I really have to go
-
I offered him a ride
After all he saved my life
But he just smiled and shook his head
Then was off to meet his wife
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Then for a moment he turned back
Saying something I should have known
He said always remember
You never walk alone
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I shared this story with my family
Their joys were of great elation
Then my wife said lets invite them both
To meet our Congregation
-
It took a little searching
Perhaps a week or more
But we eventually found their address
And was knocking on their door
-
Finally a lady said hello
As the door slowly opened wide
I said I'm a friend of Jerry's
And she invited us inside
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She was older than I expected
And spoke with a slightly southern drawl
But I knew we had the right home
Jerry's picture was on the wall
-
Seated at her dining room table
She poured my wife a cup of tea
Asking how do you know my Jerry
As she handed mine to me
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I told her the entire story
How in my greatest time of strife
I had felt so lost and abandoned
Then out of nowhere Jerry saved my life
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How I foolishly thought he was an angel
Sent from Heaven to end my plight
And how he said he walked you home
At the end of every night
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Up to now she hadn't spoken
She was content to set and listen
But as she slowly cleared her throat
Her eyes began to glisten
-
She said I do envy you so
I wish I could have been you that day
You see about 20 years ago
My Jerry passed away
-
He died up on that mountain
They say it was a heart attack
But like you others have also lost their way
And some how Jerry guides them back
-
Then sooner or later
Like you they seek me out
I know my angel is watching
I no longer have a doubt
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I know that I never walk alone
I can feel his presence every night
And I know he's simply waiting
Until we can both walk in the light
-
I had left seeking reassurance
That God was really there
Well he sent it with an angel
That day I knelt in prayer
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And when Sunday morning came
Jerry had set the tone
The sermon that I gave
Was , " You Never Walk Alone "
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Robert Pledger©
5/14/09