Adam’s Lot

(A View of the Two Lakes and Mountain House, Catskill Mountains, Morning by Thomas Cole)

Why do we spend so long here

on earth mid toil and pain,

when our true home lies not near?
’Tis far and grasped in vain.
Yet Christ lived here and did love

all that His Hand had made.
He called earth good from above

and came to give it aid.

Christ walked this earth and called friends

found one beneath a limb.
He taught how God alone mends

strife in our hearts by Him
Who shared His heart with all men—

shed tears at Lazarus’s grave!
His lot was cast for all kin

Who cost his life to save.

And though we be all pilgrims

for our few days on earth,

our thanks must still be giv’n Him

Who made our land of birth.
From family’s love we gather

how great God sees our worth—

that Father’s love would rather

spend Son than lose his earth.

Our love on earth means farewells

seem sad and foreign to us.
Yet every day the Church bells

announce the dawn of dusk.
Earth’s days and joys must both end—
O Lord, forsake us not!
Grant days unending and tend

to earth, to Adam’s lot!

~Patrick Bubel