Questions & Answers
I like to think in springtime Of a garden far away. Where a tomb was standing empty On the resurrection day.
Grieve not, nor stoop to look within The gloom where sorrow's wraith is laid. This mortal dream of sense and sin Before the risen Christ shall fade.
With ripe conviction Peter wrote to those Waiting in Asia Minor for some word That would bring courage to their fainting hearts And cause the fires of holy zeal to burn With glowing warmth Within their little band. Peter had been with him; Had seen great wonders, Traveled the same paths Along whose rugged way The Master walked.
Can we picture the scene? The quietness of evening, Gentleness of the setting sun, Fading colors in the sky, The sleepy chirp of nesting birds, Shadows—and a hush upon the land? Slowly they came, Multitudes seeking the Master, Coming from near and far, Brought by a faith in his power to heal, Weary, troubled, bowed down by fear, Young and old alike Came with open hearts and minds, Yearning humbly for understanding, love. He healed them.
Heaven is not a place in space apart, But joy and heavenly grace within the heart; He who is slow to wrath, who loves, forgives, Walks in a lighted path; in heaven he lives!
O "infinite Unseen," To Thee, all-knowing Mind, We lift our thought in prayerful praise. And our true being find.
I The nets were limp and idle; they had caught But grass and drifting seaweed; yet through all The weary night, of him the fishers thought, Uncomprehending, yearning for his call— When lo, at morn there came across the sea A sound to thrill their hearts, and turn defeat To victory: he asked them lovingly And gently, "Children, have ye any meat?" And in that wondrous hush of dawning light Upon their waking senses softly fell The love-inspired command, "Cast on the right And ye shall find," and, knowing all was well, They dipped their nets again, for, doubtings past, They tarried not, they questioned not, but cast. II What wonder that the take should so abound! Heart-full with gladness, hastening to obey, Unquestioning, how could these men be found But with their nets full? For faith-filled, could they Be empty now? Their cup of joy o'erran, And night, and toil, and failure were forgot.
" O Israel , the Lord our God is one. " Who listens, hears this call in consciousness As did the prophets of the long ago— Nor can it be denied, once it is heard.
Fear not, O Christian soldier, fighting for the rights of man; No evil shall befall thee in this war 'gainst tyrant's clan. Thy refuge is the shelter of the all-embracing love Of Him whose presence fills the earth and firmament above.
"The fleeting freshness of youth, however, is not the evergreen of Soul. "—Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, Preface, page ix.