Skip to content ↓

No One Weeps Like a Prophet

Last week I posted an article written by my mother, Barbara: Tears at Thanksgiving. It seems that people enjoyed it and I received plenty of requests to post more by mom. I’m glad to comply! Here is something she posted a few days ago for the family’s benefit. And we’re glad to share it with you. I suppose it’s a poem of sorts. Whatever genre it fits in, I think it gives plenty of food for thought.


No one weeps like a prophet does. Why does he weep? He weeps because

He sees the eternal.

And others don’t.

Where others see gain he sees loss
Where others see strength he sees infirmity
Where others see security he sees frailty
Where others see life he sees death

“Then the man of God began to weep…”

“Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable?”

“It is enough, Lord. Take my life.”

No one rejoices like a prophet rejoices. Why does he rejoice? He rejoices because

He sees the eternal.

And others don’t.

Where others see loss he sees gain
Where others see infirmity he sees strength
Where others see frailty he sees security
Where others see death he sees life

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

“Day and night they never stop saying: holy, holy holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come.”

“He who testifies to these things says,Yes, I am coming soon.”

And Jesus asked the blind man,”What do you want me to do for you?”…And he replied, “LORD, I WANT TO SEE!”


  • Southern Africa

    A Trip to Southern Africa

    I don’t often write trip reports after I travel, except, of course, in the form of books and documentary projects like Epic and From the Rising of the Sun. Yet, I thought I would make a rare exception after returning from my recent journey to Southern Africa (and, strangely, Northern California). While I am accustomed…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (December 10)

    A La Carte: Top 10 theology stories of 2025 / Mama, you don’t have to save Christmas / Giving up all your Sundays to advent / An empty chair at Christmas / Pray for the church in Rwanda / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (December 9)

    A La Carte: Reforming generosity / Let the young man come to church / Your wife is beauty / Combating imposter syndrome / Be known, not impressive / Dan McClellan / and more.

  • AI Slop

    The Rise of AI Book Slop

    We often hear these days of “AI slop,” a term that’s used to refer to the massive amounts of poor-quality AI-created material that is churned out and unceremoniously dumped onto the internet. This was once primarily artistless artwork and authorless articles, but has now advanced to much bigger and more substantial forms of content.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (December 8)

    A La Carte: A plea to older women / Let someone serve you in suffering / Why AI writing can’t compete / Influencers / The hidden danger in online sermons / Discipling young people / Excellent Kindle deals / and more.

  • Hymns

    Pitch Perfect and Tone Deaf

    God commands us to sing. Yet while some of God’s people are gifted singers, the plain fact is that others are not. In any congregation, it’s likely that some have near-perfect pitch while others are functionally tone-deaf. Those who struggle to sing may be self-conscious, tempted to stay quiet or to do no more than…