Go Lead Everyone Nearer

Listen as I tell a man's tragic story,

But where shall this sad tale begin,

About Glen, who stands before me,

I think I'll begin his story at the end.

Shoeless with clothes torn are tattered,

Dreadlocked with a long matted beard,

So filthy, ten showers wouldn't matter,

His stench would bring you to tears.

Standing on street corners everyday,

Choosing the busiest thoroughfare,

Asking with the sign he holds each day,

He begs for change anyone can spare.

This humble man hardly will speak,

Except to thank you for your kindness,

His voice so strong and truly unique,

Spoken with the sounds of divineness.

For some it triggers subliminally,

Why the Lord I have forsaken,

A repentive feeling additionally,

Their belief in God reawakened.

Glen's road to what he has become,

Is poholed with reckless behavior,

The reasons he now lives as a bum,

And from the goodness of our Savior.

From here I'll flip to the beginning,

To explain where he came from,

And how he wound up winning,

Even with all the tragedy to come.

Glen was raised to love and obey God,

To respect and follow his rules,

But to him it always seemed odd,

To worship him he felt like a fool.

For his parents he played the part,

He studied hard and excelled in school,

College is where the distance did start,

His relationship with God was through.

Climbing the ladder with his career,

Until he deservedly reached the top,

Each day he smiled back at the mirror,

Thinking no way can he be stopped.

A successful man he kept all the praise,

Credit another, of it, he'd never think,

Toast after toast a glass he'd raise,

Celebrating himself, drink after drink.

After hours spent at the Red Coach,

Leaving, Glen deciding he could drive,

Intoxicated way beyond reproach,

The last place he'd be seen alive.

As he drove onto the interstate road,

He was passed out at the wheel,

Swerving into a semi with a load,

Causing a pileup and 14 to be killed.

Glen was part of the death toll,

Drawn into a bright white light,

"For you there will be a funeral",

"Your death is marked by this night".

"Who is speaking to me", he said aloud,

"It is I, God, the one you betrayed",

With the sound of a thunderous cloud,

"But a chance I will give you this day".

"A chance that you may repent",

"And give that chance to the others",

"Back to earth you'll be sent",

"To tell your sisters and brothers".

"As a vagrant my Gospel be said",

"Make the ones like you see clearer",

"Let the message I give be spread",

"Go Lead Everyone Nearer"

Thankful for a second chance,

Glen passes along his holy word,

So, in heaven he may someday dance,

When once he thought it to be absurd.