Autumn Knows My Name

I wrote this just after I woke up this morning. I don't mean to dwell on the past, but today use to be an important anniversary, now it is just another date on the calendar. And so, here's to twenty three years ago, and miles I have traveled since then.

God Bless

Witt

Autumn Knows My Name

Sunshine decided not to show today

Rain poured down upon my weary soul

As last days of Summer have already closed

Reminding me not to cling to things like hope

But to keep on traveling down that road

Where who knows where you'll find me

And God keeps watch on my tired shadow

In midstream of my dreams that flow

Like a river long and old.

Autumn knows my name

In a lonesome refrain

Oh song of sorrows

Keep me safe

From this pouring rain

So I can live again.

Oh how do I know

Sun is gonna shine again

By light of a silver lining

Renewed in me by twilight

And friendship gathers like a boat

To rescue me from my selfish grope

To find meaning in a song

That echoes deep within

Forever haunting me like Halloween

Down lonesome cornrows

It feels my desire in Spring

And ends my question in a cold northwest wind

Yeah

Autumn knows my name.

Autumn knows my name

In a lonesome refrain

Oh song of sorrows

Keep me safe

From this pouring rain

So I can live again.

Quiet morning slumber

Wide awake to Sunday chime

Call to worship time

In a tall cathedral spire

Clothed in my finest attire

Not sure I'll even go

Oh, I've got to finish what I started

Back when

In praise through thanksgiving

Yeah

I hear him calling

Autumn knows my name.

Autumn knows my name

In a lonesome refrain

Oh song of sorrows

Keep me safe

From this pouring rain

So I can live again.

D. A. Wittler 16'

For those who disrespect our nation's symbol, who think that because we are a flawed people, that it is acceptable to behave as ignorant adults before our innocent children who watch, and wonder; a few thoughts:

More Than Stars and Stripes

We are people
Standing for freedom
And we are more than stars
Beneath a blue sky
More than flesh
Red blooded Americans
Scanning a hopeful horizon
Principled, disciplined by hard work
Tempered in fire.

We bare our stripes
Inspired by hope
Through fire and smoke
We have overcome
To see more clearly
A shining city on a hill
A white canvass
On which purity holds us bound
To higher moral ground
Than any nation ever found
On earth.

We kneel before no man
And bow before one God
Under heaven
Where all life is precious
And justice for all
Leads us from oppression's call
To serve a greater cause
Than mere mortal man can fathom
In pursuit of vain glory.

And so we remain united
One nation
Under God
Indivisible
For as long as mercy
And love
Can endure
And we are more
Than stars and stripes
To be disregarded
Like second hand garb
For we are all one people
Firm on shores of freedom.
Amen

D.A. Wittler 16'

Night Rain

Last evening a storm passed through in the wee hours of the morning. I found myeslf closing windows and quietly listening as a gentle breeze gave a first hint of rain. My thoughts were turned to  high school friends who lost parents quite recently. Now, perhaps it is my compasionate side that takes over at times like these, or maybe it is the spirit within which calls me to share some kind of solice for those who experience such loss in their lives. Whatever the case may be, I offer you a glimpse of my world at Witt's Den.   

And now, a first draft perhaps...for those who grieve. For all who still remember 9/11 as well.

 God Bless

Witt

Night Rain

Like comfort food

It calms me

Gentle as a touch

A respite from my labors

Whispers in the night

Soothing parched lips

Like a kiss from a lover

A call to slumber

Tears of joy from heaven

Washes away all sorrow

As I dream of tomorrow

Embraced by dawn

We are together once again

Savior and sinner

Cleansed in splendor

Longing of men

Like thunder rolling

Fog of morning undone

Our freedom he has won

As tears from heaven fall

In answer to this call

Forgiveness comes.

D.A. Wittler 16'

Carousel Horses

When carousel horses

Come to life

You dream

You live a child's imagination

Fleeing adult captivity

Freeing possibility

To where anything can be.

My Mother rides

Round and round

Upon her ivory steed

Never stopping

A distant memory recounted

But if you ask her

Where she's gone

She cannot remember

It was some time ago

When pages turned

And stories told

Were all the rage

A child could know

Now cobwebs form

And dust settles from a storm

Like snowflakes on the lawn.

When carousel horses

Come to life

You dream

You live a child's imagination

Fleeing adult captivity

Freeing possibility

To where anything can be.

Sleeping, sleeping

Another world awakens

carousel horses sing

Their whinnying pronounces

A holiday from the king

"Go and roam

No pasture fences

To keep us in

Freedom, freedom

From within!"

And Mother's face cringes

Her curiosity turned to confusion

A ticking clock announces

Hours with a chime

Without reason.

When carousel horses

Come to life

You dream

You live a child's imagination

Fleeing adult captivity

Freeing possibility

To where anything can be.

D.A. Wittler 16'

From: My Summer of 81

I came across an old journal from the summer after I graduated from high school in 1981. It expresses many hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Some have been fulfilled while others were never meant to be. I hope you enjoy this short excerpt:

A man sat down upon the cold grey steps that led to sorrow, and pain; his heart lay heavy within his chest, and nothing could possibly reach him in the abysss of grief he had fallen into. A tear had formed in the corner of his eye, and ran slowly down his cheek, and fell to the steps with a silent patter. He looked up, and I could tell that he was staring at me through the dark black circles around his eyes, and somehow I knew he was grieving for me. I walked over to him, helped him to his feet, brushed off his clothing, and gave him some money for a bite to eat. He said, "Thank you," and disapeared as if he had never been there at all.

I wonder today if this was all just a dream from a past as uncertain then as the future is now. I really had no clue at the time where I was headed except that I gave the power of my future over to Uncle Sam to decide for the next four years. It still haunts me to imagine how things would have been different if I had not decided to procrastinate, and go out into the world under my own power. Was this man a future projection of the man I am today? Could it be that my insight then was as keen as it is today, or was I merely mired in self doubt as any young high school graduate about to be faced with the reality of self determination, and adult responsiblity?
For whatever it is worth, pay attention to your dreams, but do not get too caught up in meaning as some things are just reflections, or impresssions, while others give but a glimpse of what might be headed your way. For me today, it is quite prophetic to know the gift of insight is inborn, and who can afford not to take a moment to consider the possibilities? If I could go back to that time thirty five years ago, and be that man, I would have plenty to say... but that is for another day.

God Bless

Witt

From The Heart of the Storm

Words to make your day:
I was down at my folk's house today checking things out since we are planning to sell it or rent it out, and I came across a book my cousin Tina Calvelage Searcy wrote before she passed away some years ago. The irony of the situation is that her brother Rick popped up on my fb page with a friend request yesterday.

Now I know my faith is being strengthened and reaffirmed by the struggles and storms that have plagued my life these past three years. From the Heart of the Storm is a chronical of Tina's battle with cancer while pregnant with her third child. Having lost one child prior to this, and the realization of how God works so mysteriously in our lives, she was able to endure and make the ultimate sacrifice.

Needless to say, as I read the introduction, and read her conclusion, I was moved in such a way that brought me to one knee and tears to my eyes. If there is one thing I have learned over the years it is that God does not place obstacles in our path, we do that to ourselves by limiting our vision of what we can and cannot do in life. We all have choices to make that either keep us enveloped in the heart of the storm or leads us out into the sunshine where a rainbow greets us with a reassurance that God will always be there to show us the way.

With that being said, let not your hearts be troubled, as Christ taught us to trust in his cross, and to never be afraid to take up our burdens daily, and follow in his footsteps. There is always hope amidst the tribulation, and such joy in knowing we do not live in vain. Now, there is work to be done... God bless!