The Secret Place

The Secret Place

It started back at work one day,
Nineteen – twenty, I would say,
A private place, a solemn space,
The Secret Place, to read and think and pray.
College school and working too,
Factory working – Jeep’s and cars we made,
lunch time was my time – the only time of day,
to have some time, some secret time,
to read and think and pray.

A dingy dirty little room, on the factory floor;
equipped with chair and waist high bin,
a not so pleasant place, where the parts were stored.
Gray cinder block was the room, no windows in the afternoon.
Yet, here I found The Secret Place!
In my mind and memory – this solemn hollowed space,
So joyful found on factory floor, I found a little place,
This precious space, The Secret Place to read and think and pray.

I went to seminary, The Prayer Room in the dorm.
Lectures, and books, and worked at night,
my life so busy, like a busy storm.
The Secret Place, was put on hold,
Heart’s devotion – lukewarm to cold.
A poor exchange, I traded down;
theology – church history and the like,
a silver education for The Secret Place of gold.
Sometimes I prayed, I did find time,
when I had a need a want at times.
The Prayer Room in the dorm – not a Secret Place,
others often there, at least became a shared relief.
My God I loved; the want to serve – call of God for sure,
The Secret Place – I’m too busy, this thinking God endured.

With heart and soul, degree in hand;
Time to start my journey now,
Ministry, – Itinerary – to jet about the land.
Church to church and here and there;
youth preaching, – church preaching – camp meetings,
filling in for pastors – here and there and everywhere.
Surprised myself – mild success – no velvet verbs – no silky words,
phrases – articulation – not so good – but God was good to me.
Anyone would ask me – to want me – to me a mystery!
Shook my head – they thought I had – something good to say.
Some time has passed and I look back, not much to say I had,
more my youth, my faith, my will to do – skillful just a tad.

I whisked away from all of this to pastor my own flock,
What I gained those seven years preaching here and there;
The Secret Place regained again – the door I did unlock;
I had to pray – read and meditate! I need a sermon thought!
A helpful thought, in time to preach God’s grace!
Path of least resistance – we usually seek and take,
I learned to make a difference, I need the The Secret Place!
Pastor church to church, for many years to come,
God’s people to care and love – to lift them from above.
The more the need, to care and preach each week;
The Secret Place to read and think and pray!

Some trouble and surprising pains – too often came my way;
some things in – some things out – out of my control.
All these things in aggregate – threatened to take their toll,
They drove me to The Secret Place – a place to be consoled.

The life I have today, is more than I deserve;
the only answer I can think, is God reserved for me!
Great health, great family, great friends – financial security.
Most of all, within my heart – a secret voice within my soul.
God’s people I have served, it will always be at least for me.
A little differently; not preaching or teaching – no pastorate now.
Helping those help others; therapists, clinicians and counselors.
Everywhere and anywhere – more than a thousand strong are we.
Much work to do – The Secret Place I need,
a private space, to think and pray and read.
Although, I own this business, it’s still a ministry!
Then there’s essays and there’s poems,
feel compelled to freely give, and freely I will receive.
I love this work, not for gain, or acclaim – this is for me!
Helping those helping others; therapists, clinicians and counselors.
Everywhere and anywhere – a thousand strong are we.
Much work to do – The Secret Place I need,
a private space, to think and pray and read.
Although, this is a business, it’s still a ministry!

Sabbatical – vacation, I find a place to call my own,
A Secret Place to read and think and pray.
In the corner of the room, or somewhere else away from guests,
I find a little private nest – a Secret Place when I’m away.
Daybreak in the morning to read and think and pray.

Much older now, in memory still,
the chair the bin – the dingy little room.
Today, I own house, – a family room,
a fireplace, a blanket and a window too.
In my home – where I go this comfy space,
The Secret Place, to read and think and pray.
Wake up! – get up! and look up! The voice within me calls.
Not worth it! Don’t wait, – don’t sleep – don’t stall.
Waste not this precious time, at the breaking of the day.
The Secret Place is waiting, to read and think and pray!

Joseph C. Hutchison, Rochester Hills, Michigan, 2020

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