Turning into the Light

From far away I saw the Tree

And grasped the iron rod,

And pressing forward through the mist,

The narrow path I trod.

But faltering along the path,

I slowed and dropped my gaze.

From shining Tree I turned and saw

A building through the haze.

It towered high above the ground,

And people fine and proud

From ev’ry doorway beckoned me

To come and join the crowd.

But though the scene was glamorous,

It filled my heart with dread.

I turned away and fixed my view

On path and Tree ahead.

Yet ever as my feet moved on,

My thoughts dwelt on the crowd,

Which mocked my struggle down below

In voices harsh and loud.

The mist pressed close around me now;

I felt its tender strands

That pulled so softly at my feet,

So gently at my hands.

One strand sang sweetly in my ear,

A soothing melody:

“Why walk this path so long and hard?

Come with us and be free!”

Relaxing grip upon the rod

And view upon the Tree,

I checked my pace and glanced around,

Intrigued by what I’d see.

The fog obscured the distant scene

That I could not resist.

I soon had left the pathway and

Was walking in the mist.

The threads of shadow pulled me on.

The night grew dark and cold—

My only warmth from thick’ning cords

That now took greater hold.

Then streaming from the distant Tree,

A beam of light did shine,

And I perceived these gentle cords

Were chains of dark design.

At once my bonds were loosened and

Gave way before the light.

But fearing now to lose their touch,

I turned into the night.

I stumbled down my unseen path,

Uncertain and confused.

O’er rocks and pits I fell until

My hands and knees were bruised.

The cords that led so gently once

Now pulled a frantic pace,

And tripping down one final slope,

I fell upon my face.

Then glancing up, my eyes beheld

A river dark and deep,

And kneeling on that sandy shore,

I soon began to weep.

I shuddered at my bitter fate:

Afraid and lost, alone.

Why had I wandered from the path

And left the truth I’d known?

I stood once more on weary feet

And summoned all my will,

Determined to retrace my steps

Back up the treach’rous hill.

But though I tried to climb the bank,

The cords would give no slack,

And whipping at my arms and legs,

They roughly pulled me back.

Then wrapping ‘round my chest and waist

And tightening their hold,

They dragged me down the sandy bank

Into the water cold.

These chains, not soft but sharp and hard,

Cut short my desperate scream,

And laughing in my ears they pulled

Me ‘neath the murky stream.

Oh what an end for one so blessed,

Whose fate had seemed so fair!

I fell through icy darkness as

Regret turned to despair.

But as I sank into the depths,

My mind caught on the Tree,

And straightway from my heart I cried,

“Dear Savior, rescue me!”

Then suddenly a light appeared

Above me on the sand,

And Jesus, kneeling on the shore,

Reached down and took my hand.

And as He made to raise me up,

My heart was filled with peace,

But still the heavy chains would not

Their rightful prize release.

I wondered then, “What could He do?”

I knew the law’s demand.

But reaching down, He grasped a chain

With His almighty hand.

The razor edges cut Him, but

The chain broke with a crack

And lashing out in fury left

A gash upon His back.

He reached again and broke once more

A heavy chain of sin.

It too recoiled, biting deep

Into His precious skin.

And each strong cord that He undid

Sprang back with all its might

And threw upon that Guiltless One

A vicious blow of spite.

When I could bear no more I cried,

“I don’t deserve such grace!

It is not fair that you should bleed

And suffer in my place!”

With no response, He carried on.

The final chain fell slack.

He lifted me—from bonds set free!—

And placed me on His back.

I clung to Him as one new-born,

His blood mixed with my tears.

Somehow His love had conquered sin

And quieted my fears.

And though I hoped He’d bring me to

The Tree with no delay,

Instead He set me on the path

Where first my feet did stray—

Then very gently placed my hand

Back on the iron rod

And for a while walked with me,

The pathway home to God.

“Remember,” He in parting said,

“My love and sacrifice,

But don’t forget, though great the cost,

That you are worth the price.”

So through the mists I struggle on,

A slow, unsteady pace,

Relying every step upon

His mercy, love, and grace.

And someday when I’ve reached the Tree,

I’ll fall down at the feet

Of Him who drank the bitter cup

And made this fruit so sweet.