"Beautiful Lives, in a Death That Comes to All"

Long ago you lived your life as a tortured soul,
And made a man of yourself,
Stood your ground,
Built your empire.

In lonely states you sought your fortune,
And fate had consented,
Gave you her all,
Then gave none.

Then the stars collided and the heavens decreed,
When you challenged their powers,
In your searching hours,
And showed you truth.

You walked this earth with your faith beside you,
And touched the lives of those around,
Keeping the balance,
In strange ways.

I did not know that you knew me that well,
The distance I had within myself,
You kept me,
From dying.

As God would have it you took me beside you,
And helped me face the monsters inside,
The ones outside as well,
And made me strong.

Who knew one day we would journey like this,
This river of no return we are on,
You call me friend,
You, my mentor.

Through all the mistakes I did you stood for me,
And made me understand it all,
Sharing my consequences,
Keeping me in line.

I never knew love until this process you showed me,
How different it was from what I thought,
You changed me for me,
None else ever did.

Mine is not the only life blessed to be tied with yours,
Those to claim otherwise are not so fortunate,
To them we are losers,
What do they know.

It doesn't matter how long or short you still may have,
Should heaven decide to take you again,
You live as one should,
With God, with love.

--1 Corinthians 13 King James Version (KJV)--

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

I'm in for it I suppose!

you tease too much, dear sir...

Oh... He's not dying that soon... Death mentioned is just a statement posed that begs the question of what kind of love have we shown in this very temporary life of ours...? He, obviously, has helped change lives of many, including mine...it is and shall be a life lived worthwhile...