Tales from the trails.
My last tale of the week is of someone who passed away in the mid 1800’s in England.
A few years ago Pauline and I visited the picturesque village of Aysgarth Falls in Yorkshire. The graveyard of the village was bright yellow with Spring daffodils. Bordering the pathway that led to the centuries old church were several mighty elm trees. Grown into the roots of one of the biggest trees, fully a hundred feet tall, was a small white gravestone. The words inscribed on it have remained clearly in my mind. The epitaph read:
DEAF JACK.
In boyhood glad and uncomplaining.
In manhood strong and daring.
In old age firm and God-fearing,
Always staunch and faithful.
I have come to recall those words many times as I have heard people make excuses as to why they do not or cannot serve God.
Think about Deaf Jack. There were no hearing aids in his world, no special support groups, no educational or teaching helps, no standardized sign language. But hear his testimony once again:
A God-fearing man, filled with a sense of adventure. Highly regarded in his rural community, faithful and uncomplaining and who surmounted his life-long disability by the quality of his character.
It was said of the Viking chiefs, that length of life was of little importance to them. Honorable mention on the Rune Stones was all that mattered to them.
Ah the Runes Stones. What will be written about us?
Jack being dead yet speaketh.
DEAF JACK.
In boyhood glad and uncomplaining.
In manhood strong and daring.
In old age firm and God-fearing,
Always staunch and faithful.
I have come to recall those words many times as I have heard people make excuses as to why they do not or cannot serve God.
Think about Deaf Jack. There were no hearing aids in his world, no special support groups, no educational or teaching helps, no standardized sign language. But hear his testimony once again:
A God-fearing man, filled with a sense of adventure. Highly regarded in his rural community, faithful and uncomplaining and who surmounted his life-long disability by the quality of his character.
It was said of the Viking chiefs, that length of life was of little importance to them. Honorable mention on the Rune Stones was all that mattered to them.
Ah the Runes Stones. What will be written about us?
Jack being dead yet speaketh.
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