The Wish Wand

Heaven and Hell

I had a little wish wand and waved it to and froWhenever thoughts turned heavenwardor the other place you go.I thought it safe to trust it with my whole eternal soulso I wished the life I'd lived on earthwould get me to my goal.

I wished that all would get to heavenwhatever they believedthat Buddha sat at God's right handthat New Age be received.I wished that Paul would change his mindthat Jesus wasn't rightbecause He spoke of lostness and adark eternal night;about the way to heavenone truth, one narrow gate, and I was so broadminded that I wished away my fate!

So I waved my little wish wandin the radiant face of Himwho met me at the gate of heaven and wouldn't let me in.I wrote to heaven's congressman,but he courteously replied that I should haveleft my wish wand at the feet of Him who died!For wishes could not wish away a lifetime of rejection,and wishes could not dress my soulin heaven's own perfection.And wishes could not save me nowfor hell was so obscene,that wishes there die ghastly deaths,strangled with a scream.

So I took my little wish wandinto hell the day I died,and I waved it at the serpent as heslithered to my side.It was dark but I could see himand all I knew was fear,and no matter how I waved my wandhe wouldn't disappear!Oh I wish that I had wished aright I wished I lived again

I wished I had a body thatwas whole, not racked with pain.I wished I could remembersomething other than the dirt.I wished I could forget my sin.So every memory hurt.Oh, I wished and wished and wishedthat I could have another chanceto cast upon the Crucifieda trusting, saving glance.

But the devil took my wish wandand he laughed right in my faceand I went to live eternally indarkness and disgrace,I never wished a wish againI had no heart to tryfor hell is where hope ended, and where all my wishes died!