We were just kids, still in our teens.
We were no 'Angels' by any means.
Hanging on corners to pass the time.
Youthful endeavors; Mischievous minds.
As usual, we gathered on warm summer nights,
laughing and joking and getting in fights.
Out of the darkness, a stranger appeared.
We grew silent and cautious as he slowly neared.
He approached us and stopped with a smile on his face.
This memory of him will be never erased.
We were just kids; He was older than us.
Not many 'Older Ones' teenagers trust.
He had a most disarming way
and with a smile, he began to say--
"Hey Guys!" "Can you help me?" "I sure need a hand!"
"My name is Harold!" and then he shook hands.
He was the Pastor of the church up the street
and a friendlier guy you will never meet.
"We're forming a ball team" He continued to say
"Without many guys that are able play!"
"We really need players!" "Can you help us out?"
Then, he told us all what the league was about.
We would play other teams with schedules and all
and umpires on hand to make the calls.
This all sounded good and we wanted to play
and Harold, still smiling, continued to say--
"Our church has one rule that you cannot bend;"
"Two Sundays a month, you have to attend"!
We were not into church and this was all new
but, two Sundays a month, we're in the back pew!
Harold showed interest; Took me under his wing
and answered my questions about anything.
He took me off corners; Introduced me to God.
I found God through baseball; Sounds kind of odd!
All, through this pastor and his smiling face.
All, through the love of the God he embraced.
His death was so sudden and so premature.
In his Fiftieth year, his heart failed to endure.
He's now with his Savior and he's home at last.
His life was well lived and his imprint was cast.
It was through him that my life was changed.
My outlook on God was rearranged.
He was my 'Mentor'; My 'Idol; My 'Friend'.
Someday, in God's Glory, I'll see him again.
*Dedicated in memory of Pastor Harold R. Mulvaney
Author notes
*pic. courtesy of Photobucket.com
*This is a Tribute in memory of Pastor Harold R Mulvaney.
He died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 50.
This Pastor was the greatest man I've ever met.
You could wake him up out of a sound sleep at 4:00AM in the morning and he would be ready to give you his testimony.
He took a bunch of street corner kids like me and managed to get us interested in spiritual things. A beautiful man--A beautiful life--A beautiful witness to our Savior.
In a list
A contest entry
- Tributes by Florida Sunshine.
525 points, ended March 6, 2008, 43 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Who in your life has affected you the most?
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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Related this so well. What a blessing that man still is.
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You were blessed that this man crossed your path, it was no accident. A beautiful testimony and memorial to him. Lovely write.
Sam
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Al,
you have penned a wonderful offering of love and dedication. Yes, it is amazing some of the people doing God's work so effectively, with a genuineness of spirit. Yet they are often overshadowed by those who suffer a fall.
I did love reading this one, as it took me back to a day, when I too was impacted by the work of one doing the same biding.
Thank you for sharing!
Richard
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awesome poem
great job on this piece i really like it. good luck in the contest. -
A great tribute for someone who sounds like one heck of a great guy, good job on your poem.
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Very Insightful
Even though you know I definately believe there isn't a God, I do believe we have a spiritual world very much like the movie Robin Williams starred in entitled "What Dreams May Come" by which I somewhat had invisioned many years before it came out. It was strange to see my him as of my favorite actors casted such a role and yet it took me totally by surprised when I found out he was a drug addict.
-- My outlook on God was rearranged.
** That my love for God has been arranged.
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its wonderful
how god puts people in our lives
and this was a beautiful tribute to the pastor and your friend
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Awesome poem! Awesome story!
I am so glad for you that God sent him to you.
Very well written. Smooth rhythm...easy to read!
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It's really nice when someone can take a look at a bunch of "Streetwise" kids ~ and instead of looking that them ~ pointing finger ~ saying look at those "Punk" kids ~ he chooses to make a difference ~ by touching a life ~ in a positive way
Making a difference in just one life ~ is like gold ~ How lucky you were to be there ~ at that time ~ and open the door ~ to let something as wonderful in ~
Excellent tribute ~ good luck to you! -
This is such a great story and beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. I wonder sometimes if the people who impact our lives the most are ever aware of it? I'm so happy for you that he took you under his wing and shaped your life. Great poem and best of luck in the contest!
Carolyn
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Very, very nice. I wish that there were more people in the world like him. Children need that; and so many wander aimlessly without love or a guiding hand. It reminds me of a friend; a neighbor of ours when I was a child. She had lived through the Great Depression, and understood what it was like to go without. She was the eldest in a large family, and raised her siblings after her parents died prematurely.
Her name was Fern Sanders. She babysat for me when I was small and took me under her wing. I always felt that I could turn to her, and she was there for me. She told me about Jesus and how much he loves me. That was nice. She influenced my life forever. She is dead now, but I know that she is in Paradise watching over me - and one day I will join her there! -
Very touching, I belive in Gods grace you will see him again.
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oh and you will see Pastor Mulvaney again in heaven! I wonder did he know the impact on your life he made.
what a great man of God was he for taking you under his wings.!!!
Silverbutterfly
Mary
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i forgot the claps =P
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this is so amazing
you as well have a great talent in writing poetry.
keep on writing!
God bless, Ashley
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