Reconciled by Hope

 Woke up this morning

With this feeling

There was purpose

To my dreaming

All through the night

Heading in the wrong direction;

Now things seem right.

Reconciled by hope

At the end of my rope

Looking for a sign

A grand design

To bring me home

When the world says:

You’re all alone.

Working so hard

Sweat of my brow

It’s easy some how

To believe in nothing

And take all you can

While the getting is good;

But I’m a simple man.

God, I know it’s time

Down to my last dime

To get moving again

Come up with a plan

For turning right

Instead of going astray;

Oh lord I pray.

Reconciled by hope

At the end of my rope

Looking for a sign

A grand design

To bring me home

When the world says:

You’re all alone.

Facing the dark

Creating a spark

A fire to light my way

On a distant shore today

To warm my heart

Come what may,

And death do us part.

Reconciled by hope

At the end of my rope

Looking for a sign

A grand design

To bring me home

When the world says:

You’re all alone.

                      -D. Wittler 6/19/13

D- Day

I want to thank my good Friend Steve Walker for posting on facebook  this reminder of the anniversary of June 6, 1945, D-Day. It marks in the annals of history the beginning of the end to a conflict where countless lives were spent needlesly by the evil in men's hearts who were determined to rule by an iron boot rather than by the even hand of freedom and liberty. And so, my commentary:

The Longest Day in history for some; those who boarded the landing craft, saw their comrades die in waves of bloodshed and who survived to be haunted by the blank stares and missing extremities of strangers who never got the chance to see tyranny avenged by freedom's might. And to the crews who drove them to their doom and some who died under shell fire before they reached the beach head. What hell they must have endured; we can only imagine and be forever grateful for the sacrifice of so many. I can still hear Mitch Miller's theme song from the film: The Longest Day. In any fight for liberty,we cannot be fixated on counting the cost, for freedom is not free and to the casualties of war, eternal glory. D. Wittler 6/6/13

Transformed for My Father’s Sake

I woke up this morning thinking of the night before. Lying in bed all alone in the dark made me wonder why there are so many problems in the world, especially right here at home. And then I picked up the book I have been reading for the past three weeks or so: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Wouldn’t you know chapter twenty five is titled: Transformed by Trouble. As I read it, the fear and anxiety of my life was affirmed as a test and a trial of faith with a purpose; to be Christ-like.

I know that God has a purpose for my life and I must put aside my child-like ways and finally become the grown up he intended me to be. We are planted on this earth and we emerge from the darkness of our mother’s womb into the light of creation. And like the crops in the fields, the trees in the forests and the fruit ripening in the orchard, we must grow upwards in order to see the purpose for which our creator placed us here on earth. The only real way to do this is to experience life as it is here, unpredictable and harsh as it can sometimes be. And so I must look upon problems in the way that Floyd Starr defined as “opportunities” rather than as a hindrance or an obstacle to my happiness. How else does the diamond form if it were not for millennial amounts of constant pressure? How else does gold and silver become refined if not through the purification of fire?

And so, today I read a piece of scripture and take to heart what Romans 8:28 (NIV) states: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. I am also challenged by Rick Warren who asks the question: “What problem in my life has caused the greatest growth in me?” I have seen and heard what a spring rain can produce in the form of flood, lightening and thunder, and yet, I can take in the sweet smell of lilac and the serene vista of a quiet lake after a storm and feel the presence of God all around me in a sunset reflected upon its glistening surface. Like clouds which accumulate, spill their contents and dissipate into thin air, I must absorb my tears like a rain soaked field that has the potential to produce a bountiful yield… for my Father’s sake. Amen.

Home Away From Home

I still can’t accept it


Lying awake at night

Silence of an open window

Breeze blowing change over me

And I’m home away from home.


It started so long ago

But it feels like yesterday

You loving me in the shadows

Of a lonely back room

Forgetting about the past.


Home away from home

Didn’t want to say it

Till the moment sent me backward

Into the corner

Of some county court room battle

Now I’m regretting all over again

My home away from home.


Time heals all wounds

Or so they say

But my heart still feels it

Knife in the mid stream

Of a broken dream.


It’s late again

Seems the darkness calls me

Full moon screaming

What the hell are you doing?

Take me to my home away from home.


Home away from home

Didn’t want to say it

Till the moment sent me backward

Into the corner

Of some county court room battle

Now I’m regretting all over again

My home away from home.