Flyer's Prayer
When this life I'm in is done,
And at the gates I stand,
My hope is that I answer all
His questions on command.
I doubt He'll ask me of my fame,
Or all the things I knew,
Instead He'll ask of rainbows sent
On rainy days I flew.
The hours logged, the status reached,
The ratings will not matter,
He'll ask me if I saw the rays
And how He made them scatter.
Or what about the droplets clear,
I spread across your screen ?
And did you see the twinkling eyes,
Of student pilots keen ?
The way your heart jumped in your chest,
That special solo day -
Did you take time to thank the ones
Who fell along the way ?
Remember how the runway lights
Looked one night long ago
When you were lost and found your way,
And how - you still don't know ?
How fast, how far, how much, how high ?
He'll ask me not these things
But did I take the time to watch
The moonbeams wash my wings ?
And did you see the patchwork fields
And mountains I did mold,
The mirrored lakes and velvet hills,
Of these did I behold ?
The wind He flung along my wings,
On final almost stalled,
And did I know it was His name,
That I so fearfully called.
And when the goals are reached at last,
When all the flying's done,
I'll answer Him with no regret -
Indeed, I had some fun.
So when these things are asked of me,
And I can reach no higher,
My prayer this day - His hand extends
To welcome home a Flyer.
- Patrick J. Phillips -
Captain Jack Bindrim
We celebrated your life as you wished......
Your friends gathered and shared stories and laughs.....
I couldn't keep my last promise to you - there were tears.....
But know that they weren't only tears of sadness - mixed in were tears of joy -
Joy that is only known after meeting someone like you.....
We will miss you forever.....
