Poems

What were you thinking, Peter, that night, Chained in your cell by Herod's decree? What realization summoned the light Which cast off your fetters and set you free? Calmly you slept till touched on the side By an angel appointed to lead you away. "Come, rise up quickly!" the messenger cried, And straightway you followed, swift to obey.

My house is built upon the rock of Truth; Order and beauty rest securely there, While hungry hearts are fed with living bread, The sorrowing comforted and freed from fear. The angels of His presence guard its doors.

The tall trees shout hosannas, And the little green hills sing; Through every age, in confidence, Bright praise to God they bring. And he who sings, despite all things That threaten to destroy, Shall trace sweet springs in a desert place, And blossoming of joy; For neither sin nor sorrowing, Nor shadow of old wrong, Can long endure when steadfast, pure Delight pours forth in song.

" Behold, thou art made whole. " The Master's voice Pierced clouds of sense and made the heart rejoice With proofs that under Principle's decree Being is Love-filled, ceaseless harmony.

Who is a God like God? Shall we not bless The ever-preserving power Of His faithfulness? In the hardest experience we knew He caused us to find Sweetness, sustaining refreshment, Ere we left it behind. The flinty rock, Confronted without a fear, Yielded the oil of heavenly inspiration, The assurance of answered prayer.

Why do we think in sorrow That morning cannot stay, That darkness soon will follow? Oh, may we always say That morning follows evening; This is God's day.

The gift I bring is an old and beautiful painting To hang on memory's wall. A wedding day In Galilee, in Cana, is the setting; And one among the guests has found a way To point to Spirit at this feast of gaiety By changing water into ruby wine, Giving to insufficiency discernment That good is far removed when men resign To limitation.

Sweeter than the honeycomb The ease that follows pain, And warmer than the summer sun After a chilling rain The peace that follows after strife When friend greets friend again; And honey sweet the abundant meat Where seeming lack has been. How joyous is the heart that knows The Father's perfect plan, That sees the boundless good He sends In loving care for man.

I have today in which to prove The presence of Thy changeless love, Thy healing grace for living's art : The hallowed thought, the childlike heart, The tenderness Love gives to man, Joy to fulfill Life's glorious plan; Strength to resist, should error fight, Relying only on Thy might. I have today to work for Thee— To lift the bruised one tenderly, To point the upward way, to free The one bowed down in misery; To love my neighbor as I should, To quickly see and claim the good; Each hour to fill at Thy behest With Christ, the ever-present guest.

This fair new day I turn to God and pray; I do not ask for anything, but praise The everlasting perfectness of Love, The beauty and the grandeur of Love's ways I rest in Love and feel its quickening power; I find pure solace in Love's gentle voice Assuring me the universe is good. I contemplate Love's wisdom and rejoice!