When Tomorrow Never Comes

I just stumbled across this poem the other day as I was preparing my computer for an operating system reinstallation. I remember my Dad sending it to me shortly after my wife and I returned from my Mom's funeral, but I was in no mood at that particular time to give it much thought or contemplation. Poetry is a genre that I've never really care for, unless it's supplemented by an infectious beat, luscious chords, a righteous "low" end and delightful vocals--you know, everything that makes Metallica worth listening to! Or is that James Brown?! :-)

Although I do find myself enjoying the writings of my friend "The Righteous Rapper", poetry simply as poetry usually doesn't hold my interest. But reading this poem again made me think afresh about the loss that was experienced in our families with the passing of my mother, my aunt and my close cousin within last few years. When my mother died, this was my first real experience with the loss of a loved one. I vaguely remember as a child my grandmothers dying; and a little later, while still a "youth", my uncle died. But these events didn't affect me very much at the time and I moved on without much thought about it. I also lost a friend when I was in High School; but again, I was sad for awhile and then...nothing.

It wasn't until someone very close to me passed away that I realized the impact of "death"; of course, by the time my mom died I had been a Christian for some time. Maybe this is why this particular poem has struck a chord? I don't know. When I read this I also think about a young couple who have been friends of SGCC since before its inception. Pete and Jen were young and married only a few years before the Lord called her home just a few months ago. I know that Pete and the family are still grieving. And yet...

As Christians, we can grieve not only in hope but also in joy. Not joy because we're happy to lose them, but joy because we're happy for their joy...their gain. I know that it's difficult in the midst of grief to consider the joy that our departed loved ones are experiencing; but even as we're called in this life to "weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice", I think we can also "rejoice" with our departed loves ones who at the moment they leave us are "rejoicing" in the presence of our Lord and His Saints. It is good to grieve because we minister to one another as we share with others the sorrow of loss. But let's follow the call of the Spirit to be ever rejoicing--for those for whom we weep are also rejoicing "at home with the Lord".

When Tomorrow Never Comes

(author unknown)

When tomorrow starts without me,

And I'm not there to see;

If the sun should rise and find your eyes

All filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry

The way you did today,

While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,

As much as I love you;

And each time that you think of me,

I know you'll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me,

Please try to understand

That an angel came and called my name

And took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready

In Heaven far above,

And that I had to leave behind

All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away

A tear fell from my eye;

For all my life I'd always thought

I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,

So much yet to do;

It seem almost impossible

That I was leaving you.

But when I walked through Heven's gates,

I felt so much at home;

When God looked down and smiled at me,

from His great golden throne.

He said, "This is eternity

And all I promise you.

Today your life on earth is past,

But here it starts anew.

This is but one Eternal Now,

no future and no past;

For in My Presence, precious child,

This day will always last."

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don't think we're far apart;

For everytime you think of me,

I'm right there near your heart.

And I, knowing now as God knows me

Will joyfully watch you serving Him,

'Till we are joined together in this wonderful place,

For all eternity.