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There is something I would like to see
In big, bold letters, several picas high
Would be an editorial about Jesus coming down from the sky"
Dedicated to his seven grandchildren, this hefty collection of more than 580 pages of poetry reflects on faith in the Christian tradition, the words and meaning of the Bible, blessings to be found in everyday life, lessons on how one should treat fellow human beings, and also pays special tribute to fellow Vietnam veterans. Wheat has filled the pages of this monumental collection of poetry with remembrances, spiritual meditations, personal anecdotes, and fierce devotion to God in such a way as to inspire any Christian who, upon soaking in these hundreds of individual pieces of rhymed verse, seeks to understand better the meaning of living a life dedicated to faith in Jesus. The author seems to pour his absolute heart into the writing of the poems with these pages, and his love of life, Christ, his fellow man, and much more comes across as vivid and true as any reader could imagine.
Poems examining such concepts as finding God’s glory within everyday observations, lifting up the downtrodden and strugglers in society, and forgiveness share an eventual conclusion that, ultimately, God is large and in charge. Wheat hammers home the point, again and again with passion, that faith in Jesus and adherence to God’s word will ultimately bring the righteous into heaven and that all will, in fact, be well.
In “A Song of Reverence,” Wheat writes, “When folks feel they are forsaken / And there are no friends around / Or when fate has left them with bad luck / Or when tragedy does abound / Although my verbal skills are few / I will strive hard to do my best / My life has been full of ups and downs, and / I know folks who need a rest.” With this sentiment fully in mind, the poet then offers: “In my song, I will try to keep / The music all upbeat / If you want to listen, then / Please just take a seat.” These lines very much represent the spirit in which the author has written and presented his poetry collection. That is, he, like everyone else, is only human. People from every walk of life, every differing background, and with all their unique stories and journeys through life, have experienced the good, the bad, and even the ugly. However, through his poetic offerings, Wheat is nothing if not upbeat, optimistic, and full of spiritual wisdom, although always in a humble and unassuming manner. One simply has to pull up a seat, as the poet here offers to readers, and an invitation for heartfelt conversation between the writer and those who read his words in this volume is made readily available, from the heart and soul, with much promise for revelation.
Within a final section at the book’s end, entitled “For the Veterans,” Wheat writes, “I am proposing that we make peace / With all our enemies, both near and far / And that God will take a special look / Towards the Soldiers, wherever they are.” In the poem “For a Soldier, From a Soldier,” the author writes about having paid a bill today for a fellow warrior as the very least he could do. “I was once a soldier, too,” Wheat pens. Describing a strong connection of brotherhood and friendship, the author tells of the pleasure he had in shaking the hand of the fellow soldier and making a new friend.