While the old countryside was lush and green,
As I looked around I saw was a very sad scene.
There was a little country church standing all alone;
It was all that remained of happy times long gone.
It had never been fancy but was only a little wood frame building
Even now one could tell that it had no fancy trim or ornate gilding.
As it had stood there it was such disrepair I could see right through,
Stand outside I could see the inside of the building and the belfry, too.
Most of the boards were blackened and falling apart.
Seeing such a sad sight really tugged my heart as,
I thought of all the people who once must have worshiped there;
They would have come from all directions to gather for prayer.
The bell that once would call all who heard it to come and bring
Their humble hearts and happy voices to come; join together and sing
Praises to God, our Savior and our Lord,
As the offer petitions to the One they adored.
Surely there had been happy times within that setting;
There were baptisms, confirmations and many a weddings.
And yes there were times of sadness, too,
As the saw their loved ones passed on to life anew.
There were sermons that were preached from God’s Holy Word.
As many hearts and lives were changed by what was heard.
And now, this once proud church has nobody in it.
As I stood there I thought for a minute.
Could I shore up those walls and the roof that was about to fall in;
And if I fixed that bell would it sound throughout the countryside once again?
Would the people who lived nearby come to hear;
The Word of God preached again for many a year.
But this church had served God’s purpose and now perhaps it is best;
Just to let time take its toll, and let this old church come to its rest.
Then remembering Christ’s promise: “My church always will be,
Not in some building, but in people as they fellowship and worship Me.”
