Poems

We all knew he was different that day. We had known him restful, with a captured rest Seized in the heat of conflict; known him gay And joyful, when the overmastering zest Of working for the Father overcame The cross's shadow; we had felt his power, Given from above, leap like a mighty flame To blast the secret root of evil's flower.

I spent  my life in learning to obey Until I was promoted from the rank, And now this garrison is my command; My soldiers do exactly as I say. Capernaum can offer grateful thanks That order is my law—and there I stand.

Nothing can injure Love. O heart, know this! The sting is self, seeking its own delight.

We knew our Bible well, chapter and verse. From childhood's days, and would with pride declaim Psalm after psalm, and accurately rehearse The stories of the blind, deaf, dumb, and lame.

Strong, Jesus' words, Stinging, like lash of whips. To the dulled ears of those who bought and sold, And those who would handle with kid gloves, Delicately, with compromise, false tact— Considerate of favor, richer tithes— The sheep-clothed traffickers In impure thoughts and aims, Whom he named thieves.

O Life divine, help us to nourish it: With Love divine teach us to cherish it. By Thy great wisdom ever protecting Until, all Thy power and perfection reflecting— God's manhood and womanhood clearly revealing— All the world shall behold it: The child of Christ-healing!

Moses prayed, with his hands uplifted, Aaron and Hur stood beside, When Israel fought in the wilderness, By the Amalekites defied. The Bible speaks often of Aaron Standing with Moses alone, But except for this simple story Very little of Hur is known.

Not with doubt and drudgery. Not with pain and fear With joyful meek endeavor We prove that God is here.

" I will not let thee go, except thou bless Me. " Thus with Jacob I shall wring from each Test of my faith in hours of sore distress Some blessing or some lesson that will teach Me how to love, grow kinder, stronger, find The way to God through every darkened hour.

Dear God of love, To Thee we come With grateful hearts. The past has fruitful been; The coming hours We trust to Thee For guidance and for care.