There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
...
a time to kill and a time to heal,
...
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
...
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
... a time for war and a time for peace.
[Its final twilight had come; before it, everlasting darkness. That mighty and magnificent ship, the War and Peace, was sinking slowly into the salty sea. On board the singular significant seakhelds were seeking solace and yet, even that, seemed nonsensical, for, you see, the prospect of perpetual prosperity in the promised land had been plucked from their personae. Their denial had given way to anger, anger to bargaining and bargaining to depression...Depression over what would forever be lost...Depression over what would never be gained. Some silently, others openly, wondered, "Must we endure this everlasting sorrow?" And then, suddenly, he appeared and she, she was at his side. And as they moved through the crowd embracing their friends, he opened his mouth and comforted them saying…]
My dear children.
For many years we have traveled on-board this grand vessel. I am sure that each of you know that, whether enduring hardships or enjoying blessings, ever have I been with you.
Ever shall I be.
It is the last hour. Let us not deny the gravity of our situation. Though this, our ship is strong, yet shall she sink beneath the shadowy surface, settling forevermore into a shadowy sarcophagus below.
I shall stay with this ship.
Do not be afraid. I shall see that each of you are sent safely on your way. Do not despair for I tell you “hope springs eternal…”
There are other ships, ships like ours, striving to reach the promised land. Some of you have sailed upon them in the past others of our number shall sail upon them in the future. May all of you reach that beautiful shore.
If only…
If…
Only…
They are, perhaps, the saddest words one could ever speak.
If only, we had more time.
Time...Time...Time.
Listen to me my brethren…
Although we live in time, I tell you that it is the one thing that makes complete happiness impossible.
Simply because we live in time we cannot combine our pleasures, our joys, our happiness.
By the mere fact that we live in time, we cannot enjoy the freedom of maturity while, at the same time, enjoy the responsibility of immaturity.
Time demands that we take each of our pleasures successively.
And time not only presents those pleasures, it also takes them away.
Reflect upon your own experience. Have you ever noticed that the more conscious you are of the passing of time the less you are enjoying yourself?
But think about the other side of this. The less conscious you are of the passing of time the more you are enjoying yourself.
That, that is a hint of what our promised land must be like. It must remain outside of time; for in that place, we shall possess all pleasure and joy and happiness at one and the same full moment.
This evening I say unto you, make the most of the time that has been given to you and, whether in this world, or the world beyond this world, I pray that you make it your aim to enter into that land for it is there that I shall be.
[Night has fallen. The water is now quickly washing over the deck of the ship. Serene Servant rushes to AIB…]
[SS] All have safely departed. None have been lost.
[AIB] Thank you my dear. And now, it is time for us to part ways.
[SS] Sir, you know that I cannot. Ever have I been by your side and ever shall I be.
[AIB] You plan to follow me?
[SS] I could do no other. As I have followed you in life, so, too, shall I follow you afterlife my Captain, my President, [she smiled] my King.
[AIB] And you are at peace with this decision?
[SS] I am.
[AIB] And so the mystery of your name, the mystery of your being, has been revealed. [She fell to her knees as he approached her, and he placed his right hand upon her saying…] The time has come.
[SS] Yes. How then shall we proceed?
[AIB – (shifting to Dwarf form – voice deepening)] We shall ride this ship into the darkest depths!
[SS – (also shifting to Dwarf form)] And then?!
[AIB] We shall bury it beneath the ocean floor!
[SS - voice quickening] And then?!
[AIB – shifting to human form with hands outstretched to the sky] We shall rise again and make straightway for the promised land!
[SS – also shifting to human] Indeed we shall my lord.
[AIB] After all blessed one, it is not…
[SS] as if…
[AIB] we cannot…
[AIB + SS] fly!
[Quickly they shifted to Nova form and then back to human. And as they embraced upon the deck a new day dawned with prospects more promising than those of the past...]
There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
Refrain
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.
Refrain
To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
...
a time to kill and a time to heal,
...
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
...
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
...
a time for war and a time for peace.
[Its final twilight had come; before it, everlasting darkness. That mighty and magnificent ship, the War and Peace, was sinking slowly into the salty sea. On board the singular significant seakhelds were seeking solace and yet, even that, seemed nonsensical, for, you see, the prospect of perpetual prosperity in the promised land had been plucked from their personae. Their denial had given way to anger, anger to bargaining and bargaining to depression...Depression over what would forever be lost...Depression over what would never be gained. Some silently, others openly, wondered, "Must we endure this everlasting sorrow?" And then, suddenly, he appeared and she, she was at his side. And as they moved through the crowd embracing their friends, he opened his mouth and comforted them saying…]
My dear children.
For many years we have traveled on-board this grand vessel. I am sure that each of you know that, whether enduring hardships or enjoying blessings, ever have I been with you.
Ever shall I be.
It is the last hour. Let us not deny the gravity of our situation. Though this, our ship is strong, yet shall she sink beneath the shadowy surface, settling forevermore into a shadowy sarcophagus below.
I shall stay with this ship.
Do not be afraid. I shall see that each of you are sent safely on your way. Do not despair for I tell you “hope springs eternal…”
There are other ships, ships like ours, striving to reach the promised land. Some of you have sailed upon them in the past others of our number shall sail upon them in the future. May all of you reach that beautiful shore.
If only…
If…
Only…
They are, perhaps, the saddest words one could ever speak.
If only, we had more time.
Time...Time...Time.
Listen to me my brethren…
Although we live in time, I tell you that it is the one thing that makes complete happiness impossible.
Simply because we live in time we cannot combine our pleasures, our joys, our happiness.
By the mere fact that we live in time, we cannot enjoy the freedom of maturity while, at the same time, enjoy the responsibility of immaturity.
Time demands that we take each of our pleasures successively.
And time not only presents those pleasures, it also takes them away.
Reflect upon your own experience. Have you ever noticed that the more conscious you are of the passing of time the less you are enjoying yourself?
But think about the other side of this. The less conscious you are of the passing of time the more you are enjoying yourself.
That, that is a hint of what our promised land must be like. It must remain outside of time; for in that place, we shall possess all pleasure and joy and happiness at one and the same full moment.
This evening I say unto you, make the most of the time that has been given to you and, whether in this world, or the world beyond this world, I pray that you make it your aim to enter into that land for it is there that I shall be.
Farewell my friends.
Farewell my family.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Night has fallen. The water is now quickly washing over the deck of the ship. Serene Servant rushes to AIB…]
[SS] All have safely departed. None have been lost.
[AIB] Thank you my dear. And now, it is time for us to part ways.
[SS] Sir, you know that I cannot. Ever have I been by your side and ever shall I be.
[AIB] You plan to follow me?
[SS] I could do no other. As I have followed you in life, so, too, shall I follow you afterlife my Captain, my President, [she smiled] my King.
[AIB] And you are at peace with this decision?
[SS] I am.
[AIB] And so the mystery of your name, the mystery of your being, has been revealed. [She fell to her knees as he approached her, and he placed his right hand upon her saying…] The time has come.
[SS] Yes. How then shall we proceed?
[AIB – (shifting to Dwarf form – voice deepening)] We shall ride this ship into the darkest depths!
[SS – (also shifting to Dwarf form)] And then?!
[AIB] We shall bury it beneath the ocean floor!
[SS - voice quickening] And then?!
[AIB – shifting to human form with hands outstretched to the sky] We shall rise again and make straightway for the promised land!
[SS – also shifting to human] Indeed we shall my lord.
[AIB] After all blessed one, it is not…
[SS] as if…
[AIB] we cannot…
[AIB + SS] fly!
[Quickly they shifted to Nova form and then back to human. And as they embraced upon the deck a new day dawned with prospects more promising than those of the past...]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
Refrain
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.
Refrain
To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days.
Refrain
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/n/t/intsbab.htm