O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?

 O Death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

“Nature’s peace dulls death’s sting and the grave’s victory. Sin, our mortal shadow, fades before the law’s light. Divine grace, through the Savior, lifts us to eternal triumph.”

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As I stand here, the sun casting long shadows, I ponder the passage of time.
Last Saturday, a chapter closed, a dear friend, Horace, departed this life's climb.
On Monday, with a heavy heart, I left a voicemail with Jim, an AA friend so prime.
And now, I've learned that Jim, too, on Tuesday, has left us behind.

Jim, with a heart of gold, a kindness unmatched, a soul so refined,
In the fellowship of recovery, he thrived, his spirit unconfined.
Horace, too, found solace in sobriety, their victories intertwined;
Both journeyed through life sober, leaving legacies kind.

I'm treading farther into the sunset years, where thoughts of mortality are designed
To remind us that life is fleeting, yet death is not unkind.
For in its certainty, we find a celebration, a release, a peace of mind.
God's grace abounds, and in our faith, comfort we find.

So I cherish each day, each moment, with gratitude aligned,
For the friendships forged, the love shared, the stars that shined.
Horace and Jim, your memories in my heart are enshrined,
Until my time comes at last, and to heaven, I'm assigned.

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Rest in peace my brothers.

In Memoriam of A Best Friend and Companion, Horace Cavitt

Upon the quiet shore of memory, I stand,

Gazing out at life's vast, relentless sea.

A friend, a brother in arms, has left the land,

His spirit cast off, finality set free.

Six years ago, in rooms of hope and fear,

We met, two souls adrift in tempests of the mind.

"I'll not be your sponsor," I said, clear,

"But in friendship's bond, our demons we'll unbind."

Together we trawled the depths, not for fish, but for peace,

In the calm of the river, in the storm's angry lash.

With AA's compass and God's grace, we sought release,

From the dread disease's relentless, ravenous dash.

Now he lies silent, his journey at its end,

His son by his side, a final wish to tend.

"A beer," he muses, a smile wry and thin,

But no, not even death can make him give in.

"No, son, I won't let Tom A. down," he avers,

A testament to a vow that time preserves.

For in the grip of longing, that siren's call,

It's not just one, but many, who rise or fall.

So here I stand, alone, yet not apart,

For his legacy lives on within my heart.

A soliloquy to honor a friend so dear,

Whose courage shines like a beacon, crystal clear.

In the silence, I cast a line to the sky,

A prayer, a thanks, a tearful, whispered goodbye.

For though he's gone, the fight goes on, it's true,

In every wave, I'll see the strength of you.

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Rest in peace my friend and brother. You're always in my heart.