Rock of Ages - a poem

Rock of Ages – by P.K. Odendaal – October 2018

You are no stranger to a palace or a manger
You know humiliation comes before the jubilation
You have often been heart broken and always outspoken
But never have you been to us a God unseen
and never have you left us when sin's dark wages bereft us

In our deepest despair you were always there
For your own loss you went to the cross
And for our gain you suffered our pain

How many times have you pardoned our crimes
And the sins we regret you tend to forget
In all that we do we may trouble you
And still you stand to lend us a hand

You lifted us high when you heard us sigh
And you searched us out from our hide-about
When life was hard you gave us a start
and all fetters you broke whenever you spoke

You rendered us white in the glare of your light
So now we can face what was our disgrace
And walk tall for the sake of us all.