By Jack Joseph Smith
Original Scan
AI Interpretation
The poem gives Jesus a companionable, practical voice, turning prayer and self-searching into an ongoing road shared with a figure who answers with confidence rather than judgment.
The verified transcript makes the exchange more direct. Jesus is not distant here; he sounds like someone beside the speaker, allowing the acting out and promising that the road continues.
'Jesus' makes the divine companionable and forgiving rather than judging. Thought itself begins in devotion - 'I never had a thought until I thought about you' - and self-examination loops into habit: 'When I looked up just to see myself / So many times I just keep doing it that way.' The Lord's answer is permissive grace: 'go ahead and do your acting out / As many times as you like, don't worry, / we will win.' The shared pronoun startles the speaker - 'We; Jesus, how can that make life' - into a prayer mid-ascent: 'Pray for me for I am still rising / And thank you for thanking me.' The close turns companionship into endless journey: 'We will walk the road / that never ends.' The kept spelling 'Loard' keeps the address unpolished and personal.