God is Good!

A short prelude...

I'm more of an essay and professional writer, but I dabble in poetry a little, too.

The only way I can capture what I've experienced recently is in a poem.

I thought my brother was going to end up back in prison or dead this week.

I'm still processing this epic drama, so it will likely take me a while to get this edition completed.

This is going to be the PG13 version. If anyone wants to see the R version, let me know, and I'll send it via a personal chat.

God is Good!

Abednego...? Abednego, are you there...?

Yeah Meshach, I just scored some great rock

What are you talking about?

Hold on...Crap, the dealer is at my door. I owe him over a thousand dollars

What! Are you insane!

Oh good, he's not there. Hey man, I have to head out

Wait, do you want me to come downtown to spend the night with you?

Naw, I'm fine. (hear some banging in the background)

"Hey man, what's going on??? You want to score some snort? How about a lid? Or, some other action if ya know what I mean..."

Ken, what the hell are you doing?

Dave. Hey Dave ha ha ha! I'll call you back later...click

Depression in my heart. My brother is heading out into the darkness of Ionia St. in Babylon, Mi

my PO says I'm going back to the halfway house

That sucks, sorry...

That may be very well be the best place for him. Hopefully he comes to his better senses there.

Prayers for you and your brother...

So far, it has.

Thanks sister!

You Are Welcome! God Bless You
That is good to hear!

God freed me from the bondage of alcohol and drug addiction .

Your brother can be set free also!

Hey brother...
Was saddened as you shared yesterday concerning your brother but have prayed much for him and will continue to. What you shared actually inspired me to write a poem I'll share with you later. I just wanted to write a note here to encourage you that God is not distant and uncaring, but a very near and present help. He is even now working to bring forth good.

Thank you so much! Can't wait to read your poem!!!

I apologize brother. I'm not going to be able to post the poem until tomorrow or very late tonight. My sincerest apologies.

Aleph

The next morning around 10am, I send a text to Abednego.

So, did you survive the night brother?

No response...11am...1pm...3pm.... Finally, around 5pm,

Yo

I thought you might be dead in an alley somewhere

Nah, I lit it up last night and slammed a half gallon of vodka to wash it all down

Why are you doing this to yourself?

I tested dirty again for the 6th time and my PO says I'm going back to the halfway house

That sucks, sorry...

Yeah, I have a trial coming up, and they're probably afraid they're going to have to chase me down again for 6 months if I bolt

That is nuts, dude. You don’t know that. We need you at work.

Yeah, I’ll try. But I’m back in on Tuesday, so I am going to live it up until them.

C’mon man. Put this in Jesus’ hands

Yeah, I know. Hey, I’m beat. Talk to you later

Ok. Hope to see you tomorrow. Love ya Abednego

Love you Meshach

No hurry. Good writing takes time for me and a lot of revision.

He clothes you in new vestments
And gives you a new name.

Beth

Feels good to be sober and clean, Meshach

Praise the Lord; it is good to have you back with us

Ruth has broken up with me, but she still wants to be friends

Well, this has hurt all of us. We suffer with and love you so much

I just don’t understand because my real family was never there for me

I know. This family doesn’t work that way.

Hey, I’ve passed five straight tests, and I am 22 days into sobriety

Excellent. I’ve got to take care of something out in the back forty. See ya later

See ya

Get back an hour or so later.

Hey Ezekiel. what’s going on?

Well, Abednego was taken away by the cops.

What!

What happened Daniel?

The marshals came and took him into custody. There was no way I was going to let them take him through the office. I escorted them out a side door to preserve Abednego’s dignity.

Anguish, Anger, Emotional Eruptions; No hope—Abednego is going back to prison…

Gimel

Esther calls me into her office first thing in the morning.

Abednego’s hearing is at 10am. Would you like to go, Meshach?

Nah, buried out in the yard and would die watching him get escorted out of the courtroom in cuffs

I know. I feel the same way and don’t have a good feeling about this right now

Daniel will go and represent the team

Sweet, Shadrach is elated that Daniel is making this sacrifice. Gives me a glimmer of hope

There is a positive vibe in the air now, but I’m still depressed

It’s 11:30am now with no word about the hearing. I see Daniel and Esther talking off in the distance when all of a sudden, Meshach explodes out of one of the doors and says,

God is good!!!

How in the hell are you here right now dude?!

My head goes down in an explosion of emotions from disbelief to joy to utter awe. Abednego goes bouncing off into the office to spread the good news.

Shadrach, have a copy…

Go ahead

You have got to come up here and see this for yourself

On my way…

What’s up Meshach?

Go over to the office

What? Why?

Just go over to the office. You are not going to believe this

Shadrach drives his machine over towards the office and out pops Abednego.

Abednego!!!

Shadrach!!!

The two embrace in a bear hug. Both faces are beaming in shear exaltation!

Meshach wobbles over to me, and we embrace in a hug as well (not too much lest the tears burst forth. Work to do yet).

How are you here? This is an impossibility!

The judge showed mercy and let me out on bond until the next trial

Praise the Lord! You have been brought back from the dead to serve us once again!

God is good indeed, brother!

Hi brethren--here is the final version I will be posting of this revised edition...


Abednego...? Abednego, are you there...?

Yeah Meshach, I just scored some great rock

What are you talking about?

Hold on...Crap, the dealer is at my door. I owe him over a thousand dollars

What! Are you insane!

Oh good, he's not there. Hey man, I have to head out

Wait, do you want me to come downtown to spend the night with you?

Naw, I'm fine (hear some banging in the background)

"Hey man, what's going on??? You want to score some snort? How about a lid? Or, some other action if ya know what I mean..."

Abednego, what the hell are you doing?

Meshach. Hey Meshach ha ha ha! I'll call you back later...click

Depression. My brother is heading out into the darkness of Ionia St. in Babylon, Mi.


Aleph

The next morning around 10am, I send a text to Abednego.

So, did you survive the night brother?

No response...11am...1pm...3pm.... Finally, around 5pm,

Yo

I thought you might be dead in an alley somewhere

Nah, I lit it up last night and slammed a half gallon of vodka to wash it all down

Why are you doing this to yourself?

I tested dirty again for the 6th time and my PO says I'm going back to the halfway house

That sucks, sorry...

Yeah, I have a trial coming up, and they're probably afraid they're going to have to chase me down again for six months if I bolt

That is nuts, dude. You don’t know that. We need you at work

Yeah, I’ll try. But I’m back in on Tuesday, so I am going to live it up until then

C’mon man. Put this in God’s hands

Yeah, I know. Hey, I’m beat. Talk to you later

Ok. Hope to see you tomorrow. Love you Abednego

Love you Meshach


Beth

Feels good to be sober and clean, Meshach

Praise the Lord; it is good to have you back with us

Ruth has broken up with me, but she still wants to be friends

Well, this has hurt all of us. We suffer with and love you so much

I just don’t understand because my real family was never there for me

I know. This family doesn’t work that way

Hey, I’ve passed five straight tests, and I am 22 days into sobriety

Excellent. I’ve got to take care of something out in the back forty. See ya later

See ya

Get back an hour or so later.

Hey Ezekiel, what’s going on?

Well, Abednego was taken away by the cops

What!

What happened Daniel?

The marshals came and took him into custody. There was no way I was going to let them take him through the office. I escorted them out a side door to preserve Abednego’s dignity.

Anguish, Anger, Hopelessness—Abednego is going back to prison…

Gimel

Esther calls me into her office first thing in the morning.

Abednego’s hearing is at 10am. Would you like to go, Meshach?

Nah, buried out in the yard and would die watching him get escorted out of the courtroom in cuffs

I know. I feel the same way and don’t have a good feeling about this right now

Daniel will go and represent the team

Sweet, Shadrach is elated that Daniel is making this sacrifice. Gives me a glimmer of hope

There is a positive vibe in the air now, but I’m still depressed

It’s 11:30am now with no word about the hearing. I see Daniel and Esther talking off in the distance when all of a sudden, Meshach explodes out of one of the doors and says,

God is good!!!

How in the hell are you here right now dude?!

My head goes down in an explosion of emotions from disbelief to joy to utter awe. Abednego goes bouncing off into the office to spread the good news.

Shadrach, have a copy…

Go ahead

You have got to come up here and see this for yourself

On my way…

What’s up Meshach?

Go over to the office

What? Why?

Just go over to the office. You are not going to believe this

Shadrach drives his Yale over towards the office and out pops Abednego.

Abednego!!!

Shadrach!!!

The two embrace in a bear hug. Both faces are beaming in shear exaltation!

Abednego wobbles over to me, and we embrace in a hug as well (not too much lest the tears burst forth. Work to do yet).

How are you here? This is an impossibility!

The judge showed mercy and let me out on bond until the next trial

Praise the Lord! You have been brought back from the dead to serve us once again!

God is good indeed, brother!

Thank you Beth and Cameron!!!

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for sharing your dynamite poem as well!

Don't thank me yet...you haven't gotten my bill.