A Walk With Jesus

A Walk With Jesus
By Mark Spencer

It was the night before Christmas,
And a good day to die.
I'd say I wasn't driving drunk,
But that would be a lie.

I took the curve at sixty eight,
Felt gravel 'neath my tire.
I lost control and hit a tree,
And my car caught on fire.

While I stood outside my body,
My fate as yet unknown,
I saw colors swirl around me,
And I wasn't alone.

Then an angel bade me follow,
He sensed I feared to leave,
For I denied God all my life,
And I did not believe.

The angel smiled and took my hand,
Then led me toward the light.
And as we approached, it widened,
Like a rift in the night.

The light faded once we entered,
And I heard men screaming.
I realized this must be Hell,
I couldn't be dreaming.

Then I felt water hit my face,
A deck beneath my feet.
The crew was running frantically,
Screaming: "We must retreat!"

Then someone ran into the hold
Sure they'd be forsaken.
He cried: "If we want to survive,
Jesus must awaken."

The storm had gained intensity,
When He came from the hold.
He raised His arms, said: "Calm thyself!"
His tone was sure and bold.

And the storm clouds, they receded,
Revealing a blue sky.
The crew knelt down and worshiped Him,
For not letting them die.

Their language was a foreign tongue,
And yet, I understood.
I listened as He rebuked them,
"Thy conduct is not good."

I felt a bit uncomfortable,
A little out of place.
That's when a crewman noticed me,
He did not know my face.

But Jesus said: "I know this man."
He called me by my name.
Dream or not, that moment changed me,
I'd never be the same.

The next few months, I followed Him,
And listened to Him preach.
I hung on every word He spoke,
Learned all He had to teach.

Then He said: "We must now depart,
Jerusalem we go."
I whispered to Him privately:
"They'll kill you there, you know."

He said "That's how it has to be."
His reasons became clear,
Had He not made this sacrifice,
I doubt that I'd be here.

It happened as He said it would,
I saw Him crucified.
He looked at me and said: "It's done."
I woke up when He died.

When consciousness returned to me,
They'd pulled me from my car.
Amazed that I was still alive,
They praised my lucky star.

As I looked across the highway,
At what no one else saw,
There He was in all His glory,
And I was filled with awe.

I heard His voice inside my head,
Saying: "Don't forget me.
Remember everything you've seen,
For I have plans for thee."

He vanished as paramedics
Placed me on the gurney.
And my tale ends where it began,
The start of my journey.

I return here every Christmas,
Place flowers 'neath that tree,
In honor of the miracle,
That Jesus shared with me.

End.