A BEAUTIFUL POEM BY JOHN STUMBO

IN A PERFECT WORLD

In a perfect world

we would have enjoyed this sunset together.

In a perfect world my pleasure of watching it

would not have been robbed by the absence of you.

In a perfect world we would always be together

and every day would close with you safely in my arms.

In a perfect world, I’d have no competition for your heart,

nor you for mine.

We’d think each other brilliant and funny,

even if everyone else thought we were just foolish or silly

it would only make us laugh louder at ourselves and love each other more.

In a perfect world, you would always understand me, and I you.

We wouldn’t get that fearful or pained look in response.

But in understanding each other we’d better understand ourselves

for to know you would be to know me, for we would be one.

In a perfect world….....

The sun has now fully set and early evening gray begins to fill the skies.

But as she set I noticed that it wasn’t the sun itself that was so beautiful.

I don’t want to speak ill of her – she is truly glorious.

But the beauty of the sunset was provided by the clouds.

Mysterious.

Imperceptibly but undeniably shifting.

Clouds that could bring rain or be silently dismissed by an evening breeze.

Clouds that I would not have thought of making

if I had created my perfect world.

Our relationship isn’t perfect.

We have our share of clouds.

But perhaps, if we get the right angle together,

We could see that they actually add the true beauty to our lives.

Like this passing day, our lives will eventually be put to rest as well.

Had we had cloudless—“perfect”—skies,

they would not have been nearly as beautiful.

In this imperfect world, we will make a sunset together.

In this imperfect world, we will hold each other still.

In this imperfect world,

we will not fear the clouds but create a beauty

that will linger long after our sun has set.

JPS

Depoe Bay, Oregon

October 24, 2008

John Stumbo wrote this poem to his wife the week he was

spending time alone on the Oregon coast. This was the

week he was writing his dissertation.

It was that week that he became ill.

You can read his story on his blog.

He is on a long journey of recovery.

Even though he is weak and has resigned his position

as lead pastor of his church,

he still ministers to us from his blog.