(no subject)
I needed to do a little bit of writting about someone that i care deeply for. i heard this song on the way back from work and i just needed to write about something that has been concerning me for some time. So let me post the song.
Old man Wrigley lived in that white house
Down the street where I grew up
Momma used to send me over with things
We struck a freindship up
I spent a few long summers out on his old porch swing.
Says he was in the war when in the navy
Lost his wife, lost his baby
Broke down and asked him one time
How ya keep from going crazy
He said I'll see my wife and son in just a little while
I asked him what he meant
He looked at me and smiled, said.
Chorus:
I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what I can see
Oh, I believe.
Few years later I was off at college
Talkin' to mom on the phone one night
Getting all caught up on the gossip
The ins and outs of the small town life
She said, oh by the way son, old man Wrigley's died.
Later on that night, I laid there thinkin' back
Thought 'bout a couple long-lost summers
I didn't know whether to cry or laugh
If there was ever anybody deserved a ticket to the other side
It'd be that sweet old man who looked me in the eye, said.
Chorus:
I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what I can see
I can't quote the book
The chapter or the verse
You can't tell me it all ends
In a slow ride in a hearse
You know I'm more and more convinced
The longer that I live
Yeah, this can't be
No, this can't be
No, this can't be all there is.
Chorus
When I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what i can see
I believe.
Oh, I
I believe.
I believe.
I believe.
I believe.
I believe...
Ok well for those of you that know me you all know that im really big into a lot of stuff. I think that is all thanks to one man, Mike McKeown. If i had to say someone was a second father to me it would be him. i know that there are a lot of people that can say that about Mike but i need to say it. Mike McKeown is my hero. He has touched so many lives including mine. This song makes me think of him when i hear it. I cant say that Mike is a devout catholic but i can definately say that he is a great catholic and a great human being. he is something that everyone should strive to be. But the last 9 years or so of my life have been graced by his presence and blessed with the influence of the teachings that he has bestowed upon me. Everything from a square knot all the way up to brotherly love. There are times now when i dont see him for weeks at a time and sometimes its not my fault even with my busy schedual. When i dont hear from him sometimes i worry that the next thing i hear might be a call saying that im needed to help in a funeral ceremony. i dont know what i would do without Mike. While my parents have done a lot for me and without them i know i wouldnt be where i am today i know the same thing about mike. When i hear this song i think about him because of all of the paralells. Mike was a military man, he has spent a lot of time talking to me about numerous things, and not only that but he truely believes in the word of god. Sometimes i think about going to demolay or to lodge and not seeing him there and knowing that hes not coming. i dont want that to happen ever. i mean no matter what the situation is you can bet that mike has a story for it. so whenever i need help i know that he is there. and its not just with demolay but with everything. hes been there and done everything that im going through and he understands the teenagers today because he spends more time with them than any other type of humans. We joke around about mike being more teenager than anything else but we still all know that theres that older man who is there who may be waiting to go to his last degree. So as a conclusion to the thoughts i need to write i share with you something that sounds like mike.
An old man lay sick in the Masonic Home.
His face was as wan as the white sea foam.
His eyes were dim, his hair was gray.
His back was bent with the trials of the way.
He faltering spoke, but I heard him say,
I'm ready for my last degree.
I've come to the end of the level time
That leads us all to the Grand Lodge sublime
From whose borne none ever return.
More light in Masonry there I shall learn
By an Alter where light shall evermore shine.
I'm ready for my last degree.
With the Apprentice's gauge,
I've divided my time Into three equal parts since life's early prime.
And this I have found amidst life's turmoil.
My wages are due me, in Corn, Wine and Oil.
I'm ready for my last degree.
Each day from life's quarries, I've hewn a stone,
With the gavel I've shaped them, each one alone.
And shipped them along beyond that bright stand,
To build me a house in that great better land.
A spiritual house not made with hands.
I'm ready for my last degree.
I've squared each stone by the virtue square,
And plumbed them all true, as I shipped them there.
With the compass I've measured the Master's designs
And kept within due bounds, with his points and his signs.
My blue prints are folded; I've answered his signs.
I'm ready for my last degree.
The Mortar I've made, from friendship and love,
To be spread with the Master's trowel up above.
My apron is worn, but its surface is white.
My working tools now will be cold and quiet.
My Trestle Board's bare, and I'm going tonight.
I'm ready for my last degree.
A few moments later, the old man was dead.
And I fancy that I could see his soul as it fled,
Upward and onward, to the great door,
Where he gave an alarm, and a voice did implore.
The old man gave his answer with these words once more,
I'm ready for my last degree.
That night in a lodge, free from all strife and storm,
He took that degree his last in due form.
So may I live like he did; to build day by day,
A spiritual house, in that land far away.
So I, when I meet my Grand Master I can say,
I'm ready for my last degree.
I hope that one day ill be like Mike.
Old man Wrigley lived in that white house
Down the street where I grew up
Momma used to send me over with things
We struck a freindship up
I spent a few long summers out on his old porch swing.
Says he was in the war when in the navy
Lost his wife, lost his baby
Broke down and asked him one time
How ya keep from going crazy
He said I'll see my wife and son in just a little while
I asked him what he meant
He looked at me and smiled, said.
Chorus:
I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what I can see
Oh, I believe.
Few years later I was off at college
Talkin' to mom on the phone one night
Getting all caught up on the gossip
The ins and outs of the small town life
She said, oh by the way son, old man Wrigley's died.
Later on that night, I laid there thinkin' back
Thought 'bout a couple long-lost summers
I didn't know whether to cry or laugh
If there was ever anybody deserved a ticket to the other side
It'd be that sweet old man who looked me in the eye, said.
Chorus:
I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what I can see
I can't quote the book
The chapter or the verse
You can't tell me it all ends
In a slow ride in a hearse
You know I'm more and more convinced
The longer that I live
Yeah, this can't be
No, this can't be
No, this can't be all there is.
Chorus
When I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what i can see
I believe.
Oh, I
I believe.
I believe.
I believe.
I believe.
I believe...
Ok well for those of you that know me you all know that im really big into a lot of stuff. I think that is all thanks to one man, Mike McKeown. If i had to say someone was a second father to me it would be him. i know that there are a lot of people that can say that about Mike but i need to say it. Mike McKeown is my hero. He has touched so many lives including mine. This song makes me think of him when i hear it. I cant say that Mike is a devout catholic but i can definately say that he is a great catholic and a great human being. he is something that everyone should strive to be. But the last 9 years or so of my life have been graced by his presence and blessed with the influence of the teachings that he has bestowed upon me. Everything from a square knot all the way up to brotherly love. There are times now when i dont see him for weeks at a time and sometimes its not my fault even with my busy schedual. When i dont hear from him sometimes i worry that the next thing i hear might be a call saying that im needed to help in a funeral ceremony. i dont know what i would do without Mike. While my parents have done a lot for me and without them i know i wouldnt be where i am today i know the same thing about mike. When i hear this song i think about him because of all of the paralells. Mike was a military man, he has spent a lot of time talking to me about numerous things, and not only that but he truely believes in the word of god. Sometimes i think about going to demolay or to lodge and not seeing him there and knowing that hes not coming. i dont want that to happen ever. i mean no matter what the situation is you can bet that mike has a story for it. so whenever i need help i know that he is there. and its not just with demolay but with everything. hes been there and done everything that im going through and he understands the teenagers today because he spends more time with them than any other type of humans. We joke around about mike being more teenager than anything else but we still all know that theres that older man who is there who may be waiting to go to his last degree. So as a conclusion to the thoughts i need to write i share with you something that sounds like mike.
An old man lay sick in the Masonic Home.
His face was as wan as the white sea foam.
His eyes were dim, his hair was gray.
His back was bent with the trials of the way.
He faltering spoke, but I heard him say,
I'm ready for my last degree.
I've come to the end of the level time
That leads us all to the Grand Lodge sublime
From whose borne none ever return.
More light in Masonry there I shall learn
By an Alter where light shall evermore shine.
I'm ready for my last degree.
With the Apprentice's gauge,
I've divided my time Into three equal parts since life's early prime.
And this I have found amidst life's turmoil.
My wages are due me, in Corn, Wine and Oil.
I'm ready for my last degree.
Each day from life's quarries, I've hewn a stone,
With the gavel I've shaped them, each one alone.
And shipped them along beyond that bright stand,
To build me a house in that great better land.
A spiritual house not made with hands.
I'm ready for my last degree.
I've squared each stone by the virtue square,
And plumbed them all true, as I shipped them there.
With the compass I've measured the Master's designs
And kept within due bounds, with his points and his signs.
My blue prints are folded; I've answered his signs.
I'm ready for my last degree.
The Mortar I've made, from friendship and love,
To be spread with the Master's trowel up above.
My apron is worn, but its surface is white.
My working tools now will be cold and quiet.
My Trestle Board's bare, and I'm going tonight.
I'm ready for my last degree.
A few moments later, the old man was dead.
And I fancy that I could see his soul as it fled,
Upward and onward, to the great door,
Where he gave an alarm, and a voice did implore.
The old man gave his answer with these words once more,
I'm ready for my last degree.
That night in a lodge, free from all strife and storm,
He took that degree his last in due form.
So may I live like he did; to build day by day,
A spiritual house, in that land far away.
So I, when I meet my Grand Master I can say,
I'm ready for my last degree.
I hope that one day ill be like Mike.