The Search

When I was just a young man
and lived in Bethlehem 

I craved a setting bold, grand, 

alive – Jerusalem! 

I left the town of David; 

the city wasn’t far. 

I thought the Temple splendid, 

the town a grand bazaar. 

I thought “How true to my luck” 

that soon as I had gone 

from east there came a show such 

as few had come upon. 

And then King Herod’s army 

was marched into the town. 

They wrote a bloody history 

by cutting children down. 

It’s power, glory, mystery, 

to soar above the heights, 

to be a part of history 

that I’ve sought all my life. 

Jerusalem was central 

to those of Israel 

but life was uneventful, 

its glory old and pale.


Now boats and men from far lands 

sailed into Antioch. 

And those who walked in its sands 

would know what’s new, what’s hot. 

I left the Holy City 

one year at Pentecost 

with pilgrims hot and gritty, 

yet happier than most. 

They spoke of dead men rising, 

of ghosts that came on wind. 

I mused about my missing 

encountering their friend. 

It’s power, glory, mystery, 

to soar above the heights, 

to be a part of history 

that I’ve sought all my life. 

Well, Antioch was booming 

but not so much as Rome. 

I soon found myself fuming 

to make that city home. 

I left the sandy seashore 

and sailed for Seven Hills. 

This time I knew I was sure 

and Rome my thoughts did fill. 

Some on the boat were sailing 

to Cypress and to Crete. 

The tale that they were telling 

seemed strange, beyond belief. 

A ranting man from Tarsus 

spoke of a group of Jews, 

said one had come to reach us, 

no matter what our views. 

It’s power, glory, mystery, 

to soar above the heights, 

to be a part of history 

that I’ve sought all my life. 

And now I am an old man, 

a denizen of Rome, 

I earn what little I can 

but still my mind does roam. 

My work is guarding prisoners 

and one’s a man I’ve known. 

We once were fellow travelers, 

for Paul has come to Rome. 

The ranting now makes more sense, 

but maybe it’s just me. 

He speaks of love, repentance, 

of peace that makes men free. 

It seems that I was looking 

for what I failed to see, 

that miracles were breaking; 

that history called to me. 

It’s power, glory, mystery, 

to soar above the heights, 

that God’s brought into history. 

God’s sought me all my life.