Open Sky: In Memory of Grandpa

My grandpa, Gene Adair Pearson, passed away Sunday morning, August 10th, at ninety-two years old. It was one of those days you know is going to come eventually, but you keep thinking it might hold off a little longer.

I’ve spent nearly every Sunday afternoon of my life at my grandparents’ house. When I hugged him hello, Grandpa would tell me how beautiful I looked, sometimes calling me “Red”, which I liked, because I’ve always wished my hair had more than a hint of copper in it. He sometimes had trouble understanding what all I was up to with my blogging, facebooking, and e-publishing, but he was sure I was the best at it, and constantly encouraged me. When it was time to leave in the evening, I’d hug him goodbye, and he’d tell me to have a good week.

The Saturday before Grandpa died, I had a poem called “Open Sky” running through my head. It had come upon me years ago, fully-formed, words in perfect metre with a gentle, haunting tune. But I just filed it away because I wasn’t exactly sure what it was about, and it felt very personal.

Now, the meaning of the poem seems clear to me. On one level, it’s about the sadness of losing someone you love, and longing to be reunited with them. But most of all, it’s about the joyous hope of Jesus coming back for us, and the eternal life we have in Him.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

(I Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Open Sky

I will find you in the open sky

Past clouds in castle shapes we’re floating by

Much higher than the birds of earth can fly

I will find you in the open sky

I will find you in the open sky

The galaxies and planets roaring by

Between the stars beyond the dark we’ll fly

I will find you in the open sky

I will find you in the open sky

The new world’s light now dawns upon your eye

And with me into eternity you’ll fly

I will find you in the open sky

Dawnna Jean Pearson ©2012