Poems

In thinking rightly always good is gained: True thoughts are God-inspired, God-sustained. What is the pattern that we name perfection? Man's constant witnessing as God's reflection!

We are a thankful people, Lord, Who turn to You as children might, And know our deep desires are met Before we ask—and met aright. As Hagar turned, and found a spring Where there had seemed no fount before, Here, in this wilderness of days, We find refreshment more and more.

Lift up your head, 0 beloved, The fields are ripe with grain. Harvest comes to the faithful, Your labor is not in vain— Harvest of patient sowing, Fruitage of daily prayer, Courage through nights of darkness, Faith in His tender care.

O God , receive the tribute Which this Thy servant brings; He has not brought Thee riches From the treasure house of kings, But he has brought the firstfruits Of every labor wrought, The harvest to him rendered By each aspiring thought. He comes as Thou hast bidden.

The crowd had passed; the mocking, scornful crowd which had accused her and pronounced her doom. Trembling, bowed with the weight of condemnation, she found she stood alone with one they had called "Master," nor dared to raise her face until he spoke.

A light shines through the darkness And penetrates the chill. I turn to it from wandering The wilderness at will.

What tribute shall I bring to God, how shall I prove my worthiness to call myself His child? Often I asked. Then, as I prayed, On wings of Love the answer softly came.

One gleam of light illumining, One ray of Truth, discerned In mortals' dark room of ignorance, Releases knowledge in a small and busy flame, Until at last the fire springs into being And burns away the litter and the heap, Leaving the walls upright and unbuckled, Resting upon conclusions absolute and deep.

Again the winds were violent and cold; They pinned the listing ship between two seas— Yet in that plight a higher power controlled The storm: Paul prayed in their adversities. Prayer turned confusion into joy and cheer.

When he said to me, "Go, wash in the pool," Some may have wondered why he did not lead me there Or fetch the water to me. The clay he spat upon clung to my eyes; I myself must cleanse myself from earth.