A Story about Love

A Story about Love

Let me tell you a story.

…

It was a mundane asylum as asylums go.  The room was small, with just enough space for a single bed and wash stand.  The walls were a paint-chipped version of dirty white.  The window was high up, beyond reach with strong bars securely covering the opening.

The occupant was an old man.  Most days, he sat on the edge of his bed and stared blankly at the wall.  His disheveled appearance frightened most people and his filthy garments hung loosely on his gaunt frame.  His now-white hair would win an award for “best bad hair day”, if such an award were given.

“DEMENTED” was the label he bore. 

     Crazy

          Out of his mind

               Of no use to society

Who knows what he once was?

Perhaps there was someone in this world who still loved him. 

Perhaps.

But no one came to visit.

And no one sent him birthday cards.

Even today, no one remembers his name.

On the day he died, some words were found penciled on the wall near where he lay.

His version of these words were based on a Jewish songwriter’s poem penned in 1069 and called Hadamut.  These words later became the third verse of the song The Love of God by a Gentile songwriter (Frederick M. Lehman) based on the revision found in the asylum room just described above. 

Here are his words.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

If he was demented at the time he composed these lyrics, we would have to call him a Divine Madman.  Some say he composed these lyrics at a more lucid time in his life. 

What power, grace, and an overwhelming concept of love we see in this portrayal of The God of the Universe.

Thank you, Mr. Anonymous.

Our understanding of God is broader because of you.

Enjoy your moment of reveling in the great love of God.

P Michael Biggs

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