Blog 145: A Fraternal Brother Seeks Another: After the Waco Explosion

By Vernon M. Herron



     After reading the Holy Scriptures at Matthews 18:11-14, the hymn “Ninety and Nine” is most appreciated.

 “Ninety and Nine”

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold.
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry,
Sick and helpless and ready to die;
Sick and helpless and ready to die.

“Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;
They are pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

And all through the mountains, thunder riven
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”

     Recently, a deadly explosion ripped through a fertilizer plant in Waco, Texas killing and injuring many.  It also leveled dozens of plants and homes. It damaged buildings, including schools and nursing homes.

     My immediate concern and prayers were for the people of Waco but especially for a fraternal brother (ΑφΑ ) who lives in Waco. Several times, I e-mailed an inquiry to my brother in Waco, to no avail. This started a chain reaction. For help, I called:

The Alpha Phi Alpha National Headquarters

            Churches in Waco

            Waco Social Service

            Waco Police Department

      It was from the latter that I received help. Receiving a phone call at 10:30 p.m., the Waco Police Department reported that:

     A visit had been made to the brother’s home even though no one was there;

     Neighbors reported that the brother was alive, well and doing o.k.

Thank God for the news.

     Even though the “Ninety and Nine” are safely in the fold, the lost one has been found, is alive and well.

I sought my soul – my soul I could not see.

I sought my God – He too eluded me!

I sought my brother – and there I found all three!

Praise God!