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.

Dark Night Singing

Closed up the shop

Headed out the door

One thing I knew for sure

It would be a long drive

Dark night singing.


Watched the sunset fade

Into a star filled sky

Didn’t know why

The tears weren’t forming

Dark night singing.


Opened up the window

Just to cool my face

Imaginary embrace

One last moment

Dark night singing.


And though it’s all over

My mind goes round and round

Upside-down over you

And love fades into darkness

As I round one more bend

On a road to nowhere

Or so it seems to me

Dark night singing.


Then it occurs to me

The rumbling road beneath

Becomes a melody

My soul can parody

Dark night singing…


And the words begin to flow.


And though it’s all over

My mind goes round and round

Upside-down over you

And love fades into darkness

As I round one more bend

On a road to nowhere

Or so it seems to me

Dark night singing.

           D. Wittler

Untie the Knot, You Fool

I found the words
And heard the tune
In streaming legal terms
Justice is not blind
It sees beyond the womb
Knows our secrets
Displays the doom
Of mortal combat
In a court room.

Through blood stained eyes
I saw the cross
It held me up
Carried me home
To a silent space
All alone...
Where misery resides
And blind men find
A rope to bind
Tying knots to size
Hoping to unleash the gloom.

A hundred million years
Will find no trace of us
We spent out time
Turned to dust
A pitiful race
But there is redemption
So, untie the knot you fool
And bury the old
Seek the new
In time all wounds heal
And truth lives once again.

D. Wittler 5/13

What can I say about this one? I came across Pink Floyd's "Final Cut" and it struck a chord in me. In spite of all that has happened over the last sixth months in my life, I find something to write about that might resemble poetry. What a treasure to behold!

Monday Monologue

A follow up piece to my last entry. I'm thinking about doing a series on this theme. Your thoughts are appreciated. So, here goes...

Monday Monologue



Monday, May sixth, 2013
Back to where my married life began
Now, only memories
The fountain I once thought
Would never stop
Has gone silent

The books I used to surround myself with
Speak volumes of past lives’
As if I had died
And been reborn a stranger.


First Methodist tolls the six o’clock hour
While “Peace is Flowing Like a River”
Calls from Sunday morning.
My neck aches from sleeping hard
Unknowing of what tomorrow brings.


Life has become a maelstrom
Drawing everything within sight
Downward
Like a giant drain after a hot bath
While a once close friend sparks anew
Hope in the written word.
You are my hero.