The Three Minute Grandparent

TO THE WORK To the work! To the work! We are servants of God; Let us follow the path that our Master has trod; With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew, Let us do with our might what our hands find to do. Refrain Toiling on, toiling on, Toiling on, toiling on, Let us hope and trust, Let us watch and pray, And labor till the Master comes. Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) wrote the words to this engaging old hymn. As a blind poet, Fanny wrote much in the way of hymns for the Church. To The Work, written in 1869 represents her view of the Christian walk; daily and consistent. William H Doane (1832-1915) composed the music in 1871. Doane was an industrial leader who composed in the evenings at his home. Ira Sankey, music leader for the Moody-Sankey Revival team said, “I sang this song for the first time in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Cornell at Long Branch.  The Servants gathered from all parts of the house while I was singing, and looked into the parlor where I...

Caleb's mind was reeling as he watched a bright figure approach him.  "Reuben?  Was it?" moved nearer and nearer to Caleb as he tried to squeeze through the wall at his back.  Suddenly Reuben's face came into sharp focus. "Ageless and gentle," came to Caleb as he stared at the face not more than 3 feet ahead of him.  "Perhaps this is a friend," he thought.  The past few days of terror began to slowly melt away as a block of ice melts in the warm sunshine.  Caleb felt the warmth of this face that seemingly held no animosity toward him. Caleb asked again, "Why?" Reuben answered, "A test." Reuben paused, gazing into Caleb's still tense face, and said,"A test for someone with a great task ahead." The wind began blowing through the trees and the cabin vibrated slightly as the breeze came through small cracks in the walls.  Caleb felt the slight breeze on his cool skin while continuing to hear Reuben's words of...

This story is unfolding to me as I share it with you.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.  Remember, this is a work in progress.  I would appreciate your feedback.  Thanks for reading my blog.  Ken ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The cabin was dark and the air heavy.  Caleb struggled to emerge from his long sleep.  Or was it sleep? "Why am I here?" he wondered.  His head moved slowly as he tried to pierce the darkness with tired eyes. The voice spoke, "Why are you here?  Did you follow me?" Then silence....oppressive silence.  Questions.  No answers.  Waiting.  Silence. Caleb tried to move and quickly realized that he was tightly bound.  His head was free to move, however there was nothing to see in this pitch black....what was it?  Room? The voice spoke again, this time more agitated, "Who are you?" Cale...

The cabin was dark and the air heavy.  Caleb struggled to emerge from his long sleep.  Or was it sleep? "Why am I here?" he wondered.  His head moved slowly as he tried to pierce the darkness with tired eyes. The voice spoke, "Why are you here?  Did you follow me?" Then silence....oppressive silence.  Questions.  No answers.  Waiting.  Silence. Caleb tried to move and quickly realized that he was tightly bound.  His head was free to move, however there was nothing to see in this pitch black....what was it?  Room? The voice spoke again, this time more agitated, "Who are you?" Caleb spoke, "My name is Caleb,Who are YOU?" "I am......, I am.......myself," was the message from the voice. Suddenly, a light appeared as a door seemed to open, then shut.  The light disappeared, and unknown to Caleb, he was alone. Silence, darkness, so alone. Caleb's ropes fell off and slowly pulling himself up and feeling the floor with his bare fe...

The cabin was weathered and old looking as it sat in a grove of trees.  Leaves covered most of the roof's shake shingles.  Two small windows with dirty glass stared toward Caleb as he returned the look.  It was a most disreputable looking house. The yard around the split log house had the appearance of disuse.  An old bicycle leaned carelessly against a corner of the small cabin.  It too, was weathered looking, or perhaps, Caleb thought, rusted out.  The yard needed cleaning to rid the accumulated debris and encroaching forest from the path that seemed to appear as Caleb began walking toward the old porch.  Almost afraid to step up on the porch, Caleb placed a booted foot on dark wood that groaned with his weight.  Another foot with it's weight seemed to cause the whole porch to groan with the burden imposed on it.  Caleb moved slowly, glancing around at the dirty porch with it unused swing, moving steadily toward the door.  As he appro...

Walk down the path, go ahead feet, walk!  Wait....I got here in the wrong end of a car....maybe I can leave behind the steering wheel?  Run back to the car...hurry! Caleb stood next to the driver's door, afraid to touch the car.  The day already had brought more than his fair share of surprises and perhaps touching the car would.....forget it, just open the door and get in...but where would I go?  Just follow the road!  OK, I'll drive the Caddy.... Caleb opened the door and sat in the seat, reached for the keys...uh oh.... The keys were not in the ignition and Caleb realized that he would be walking.  He pulled himself out of the car for the second time.  The sun was still shining and the breeze was gently blowing but Caleb felt a chill.  The nightmares were catching up with him.  Remembering the voice calling to him....YES, calling his name, Caleb!  The rustling leaves and the voice...again..... Suddenly the woods seemed frightening...

I can't stay in bed and hide forever.  There's no food in here and I'm hungry.  I need a shower, but this room will not help in my cleanup....it's filthy. Caleb left the hotel room, stumbling out the door.  The sun hit him full force in the face causing him to close his eyes as hands covered his eyes...not his own hands.  Two large men quickly tied Caleb hand and foot and threw him into the large trunk of an old model Cadillac.  The car traveled for more than an hour but Caleb quickly lost track of time.  The fumes from the faulty muffler quickly overwhelmed his senses and he lost consciousness. I hear wind blowing somewhere, so loud.  It's whistling and....I'm looking for something....I can't find it...I can't see anything....can only hear the wind.... Caleb lay in the trunk of the old Caddy with the trunk open...his mind a blur, but fortunate to be alive.  His abduction was done with precision and the fact that he was alive was beyond miracul...