Testing times

Testing times    Some trials come into our lives like a wind that rustles leaves in a    tree    Some trials come into our lives like a hurricane that uproots trees    Testing times    Like a spy who reveals to the enemy the strengths or weaknesses     of the walls of a  fortress    So does the way we handle the trials in our lives    reveal to The Prince of this world  whether the walls of our faith are   strong or are weak    Testing times    Trials are like an armed bandit    Who robs the wicked man of years of his life    But to the righteous man they are a school master    of wisdom and a builder of faith    Trials test the substance that love between two people is made of    like fire burning off the impurities in a piece of gold    Silent Songs:  written by Stephen J. Vattimo       Sept 13, 1998