ETERNAL INK

    (the actual account of a dream)
    by Craig F. Pit

    I dreamed I was in heaven
    Where an angel kept God's book.
    He was writing so intently
    I just had to take a look.

    It was not, at first, his writing
    That made me stop and think
    But the fluid in the bottle
    That was marked eternal ink.

    This ink was most amazing,
    Dark black upon his blotter
    But as it touched the parchment
    It became as clear as water.

    The angel kept on writing,
    But as quickly as a wink
    The words were disappearing
    With that strange eternal ink.

    The angel took no notice,
    But kept writing on and on.
    He turned each page and filled itTill all its space was gone.

    I thought he wrote to no avail,
    His efforts were so vain
    For he wrote a thousand pages
    That he'd never read again.

    And as I watched and wondered that
    This awesome sight was mine,
    I actually saw a word stay black
    As it dried upon the line.

    The angel wrote and I thought I saw
    A look of satisfaction.
    At last he had some print to show
    For all his earnest action.

    A line or two dried dark and stayed
    As black as black can be,
    But strangely the next paragraph
    Became invisible to see.

    The book was getting fuller,
    The angel's records true,
    But most of it was blank, with
    Just a few words coming through.

    I knew there was some reason,
    But as hard as I could think,
    I couldn't grasp the significance
    Of that eternal ink.

    The mystery burned within me,
    And I finally dared to ask
    The angel to explain to me
    Of his amazing task.

    And what I heard was frightful
    As the angel turned his head.
    He looked directly at
    And this is what he said...

    I know you stand and wonder
    At what my writing's worth
    But God has told me to record
    The lives of those on earth.

    The book that I am filling
    Is an accurate account
    Of every word and action
    And to what they do amount.

    And since you have been watching
    I must tell you what is true;
    The details of my journal
    Are the strict accounts of YOU.

    The Lord asked me to watch you
    As each day you worked and played.
    I saw you as you went to the masjid,
    I saw you as you prayed.

    But I was told to document
    Your life through all the week.
    I wrote when you were proud and bold,
    I wrote when you were meek.

    I recorded all your attitudes
    Whether they were good or bad.
    I was sorry that I had to write
    The things that make God sad.

    So now I'll tell the wonder
    Of this eternal ink,
    For the reason for its mystery
    Should make you stop and think.

    This ink that God created
    To help me keep my journal
    Will only keep a record of
    Things that are eternal.

    So much of life is wasted
    On things that matter not
    So instead of my erasing,
    Smudging ink and ugly blot.

    I just keep writing faithfully and
    Let the ink do all the rest
    For it is able to decide
    What's useless and what's best.

    And God ordained that as I write
    Of all you do and say
    Your deeds that count for nothing
    Will just disappear away.

    When books are opened someday,
    As sure as heaven is true;
    The Lord's eternal ink will tell
    What mattered most to you.

    If you just lived to please yourself
    The pages will be bare,
    And God will issue no reward
    For you when you get there.

    In fact, you'll be embarrassed,
    You will hang your head in shame
    Because you did not give yourself
    In love to Allah's Name.

    Yet maybe there will be a few
    Recorded lines that stayed
    That showed the times you truly cared,
    Sincerely loved and prayed.

    But you will always wonder
    As you enter heaven's door
    How much more glad you would have been
    If only you'd done more.

    For I record as God sees,
    I don't stop to even think
    Because the truth is written
    With God's eternal ink.

    When I heard the angel's story
    I fell down and wept and cried
    For as yet I still was dreaming
    I hadn't really died.

    And I said: O angel tell the Lord
    That soon as I awake
    I'll live my life for Allah-
    I'll do all for His dear sake.

    I'll give in full surrender;
    I'll do all He wants me to;
    I'll turn my back on self and sin
    And whatever isn't true.

    And though the way seems long and rough
    I promise to endure.
    I'm determined to pursue the things
    That are holy, clean and pure.

    With Allah as my helper,
    I will win lost souls to Thee,
    For I know that they will live with Allah
    For all eternity.

    And that's what really matters
    When my life on earth is gone
    That I will stand before the Lord
    And hear Him say, well done.

    For is it really worth it
    As my life lies at the brink?
    And I realize that God keeps books
    With His eternal ink.

    Should all my life be focused
    On things that turn to dust?
    From this point on I'll serve the Lord;
    I can, I will, I must!

    I will NOT send blank pages
    Up to God's majestic throne
    For where that record's going now
    Is my eternal home.

    I'm giving all to Allah
    I now have seen the link
    For I saw an angel write my life
    With God's eternal ink.