BEFORE COLUMBUS, PATRICK!

​A thousand years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue,
Sit back, I'll tell you of Patrick, a story true.
An English lad, at age 16 found himself a victim of slavery,
He spent 6 years in Ireland, a society knavery.

But, at age 22, he managed to slip free back to home,
For years he studied under the church headquartered in Rome.
He then felt led to return to Ireland, North and West,
He shared with others the goodness of God-he did his best.

This part of Ireland for the Gospel had yet to be reached,
He started 300 churches, to thousands he preached.
He also baptized --over 120,000 people,
All this was done before churches had a steeple.

What about your life and mine?
What should we say to folks who are in our line?
Might God take you far away to find something to say?
The people you witnes to may be at work or play.

I've lived long enough to realized many things are possible,
I've also learned that with God, nothing is impossible.
One other thing, St. Patrick doesn't need to be your name,
Just be sure that God and His work are part of your fame.

Dave Hale  Ottawa, Kansas