To My Fallen Comrade

Hearing the tragic news about the death of Matthew Warren, Rick Warren’s son, stirred up deep feelings in me. I realized that we had much in common – so much so that but for God’s mercy his story could have been mine. We were fairly close in age, both Christians raised in Christian homes with parents who do some kind of ministry (my father has even worked with Rick Warren on a project), and we both struggled with mental illness for years. But I pulled out of it (more or less), while Matthew never did. This is a terrible time for the Warren family, and although I know nothing I say can heal this grief, I am offering my prayers to the One who can. I dedicate this poem to Matthew Warren and hope it will bring some kind of catharsis and/or comfort to those who are grieving.

To My Fallen Comrade

It was a weary, lonely fight we fought

Standing side by side, yet miles and miles apart

Upon the blackened landscape of our thoughts.

With all our strength we strove each morning,

Wrestling our weary bodies from the beds

Where we had fought, bled, wept

For sleep that fled.

With every breath we breathed we choked

Upon the black and burning smoke that cloaked

Our every move, obscuring sight,

With darkness deafening our ears

To words of hope.

We struggled through the days, weeks, months and years,

Begging our Lord for peace that did not come,

Striking at shadows, never knowing

Where to swing to smite the beast

That battered, bruised and broke our hearts until they hurt to beat

And every breath burned.

How did I escape that battelefield

To find this sweet oasis where the air

Is clear and light can fill my eyes?

But you, my brother both in faith and battle blood,

Are fallen, and my heart is filled with tears.

I long to tear into that demon in the dark

That stole you from this world

With so much joy untasted,

With so much good undone,

But there is nothing I can do.

So rest, my brother, in the sleep that once fled

Until the day when agony and death will lie dead

And we will dance where once the darkness reigned

And weep no more.