Written for and read during the funeral for
Mr. Peter Rynberk, Wednesday, September 28, 1988.
Dear God, I feel so strange today
As at Thy throne I kneel.
I have a feeling in my heart
I’m not supposed to feel.
I feel a loss down in my soul
I’m not supposed to know.
Tears flow down my saddened cheeks
That aren’t supposed to flow.
For this was not a life-time friend
To whom I’ve said, “Good-by.”
Then why this undue broken heart?
What makes this grievous sigh?
He never came to visit me
To share a folksy talk,
To sit around a warming hearth,
Or take a friendly walk.
A few chats in my office, and
A “Howdy” here and there
Composed the whole of fellowship
That time would let us share.
Oft times I passed his business, and
I thought, “I’d like to stop
To see him at his workbench
And share a sip of pep.
No-I’m sure that he’s too busy 7
To stop for fellowship.
He surely has too much to do
To pause to chat and sip.”
So I would quietly drive my way
While wishing I had known
If he had had some time that day
To spend with me, alone,
To talk about the things of God, 1
His truths to glean and share,’
-To praise our God together for
His wondrous love and care.’
And yet, somehow I always felt
That I had walked with him.
I felt a closeness that was borne
On wings of seraphim.
We never shared a happy trip
To visit distant lands.
We never shared the Rockies’ peaks
Or Georgia’s reddened sands.
And yet, I felt I’d toured with him
And traveled many miles,
To share what Christians can share best-
A heap of love and smiles.
And so, somehow, I always felt
That I had TOURED with him,
And felt a closeness that was borne
on wings of seraphim.
I ne’er sat across from him
To share a happy meal,
To laugh and smile and break some bread
And his soft heart to feel.
And yet, I felt that many times
We’d broken sacred bread,
And by his kind and gracious words
My soul was also fed.
You know, somehow I always felt
That I had DINED with him.
I felt a closeness that was borne
on wings of seraphim.
I never through his threshold walked
To visit at his place,
To know his hospitality,
His friendliness and grace.
And yet, I felt I’d been with him
In his house and in mine
To share Some truths from God’s dear Word,
To pray-and praise-~and dine.
You see, somehow I always felt
That I had HOSTED him.
I felt a closeness that was borne
On wings of seraphim.
I never really talked with him,
Cept minutes here and there.”
I never heard him make a speech
Or say a Godly prayer.
And yet, it seems to me as if
We’ve talked for many years.
It seems as though we both have shared
A million laughs and tears.
Somehow, you see, I always felt
That I had TALKED with him.
That caused a closeness that was borne
On wings of seraphim.
Perhaps this closeness oft was caused
By fellowship in prayer.
For at our Father’s throne of grace,
I often met him there.
As I grew closer to our God,
And he grew closer too,
we both came nearer to our Christ,
And so, our closeness grew.
One arm of God encircled him,
The other wrapped ’round me-
Which made us just about as close
As mortal folk can be.
We came to feast from God’s dear Word
And gaze upon His face.
We dined at God’s own table spread
With mercy, love and grace.
-And though we never shared the walk
That earthbound folks have trod,
We often walked together ’cause
We both walked with our God.
And so, I feel a hurt today
I’m not supposed to feel.
I feel a wound down in my heart
That is not soon to heal.
I sit.beside you, blessed ones.
Your pain I feel and share.
I hope you really understand:
I love you and I care.
You see, somehow, I always felt
That I had SHARED with him
A closeness that was surely borne
On wings of seraphim.
