Questions & Answers
If thou wouldst have the love thy empty heart Is crying out for, as one cries for bread, Then strew love joyously along the path, Daily and hourly, where thy feet may tread. It will take root and blossom forth again To shed its fragrance all along the way, Sending its perfume into hearts where pain And doubt and fear may seemingly hold sway.
ALONE, like Lazarus of old, alone Within the tomb of earthly hopes we lie; Immobile there, now shines for us no sun, Nor stars in splendor crown the evening sky. The graveclothes of materiality Bind fast our faith, obscure our vision free; But suddenly a shaft of light pervades The silent darkness drear, For Science rolls away the stone That seals our prison—clear We hear its calm, firm summons to come forth And loose our craven fear: Come forth to life undimmed, to joy-filled days, To peace that stills again, So tenderly, in Love-exalted ways, The restless clamor in the hearts of men; Come forth to serve, in glad humility, And find in evil no reality, To know that Truth revealed all need supplies— Oh, longing, modern Lazarus, arise!
O BLESSED place, where I may go apart And rest awhile within a peace divine, Unloose the heavy chain about my heart And drink anew of Love's inspiring wine— The consciousness, where from God's table spread The bread of Life my hungering thought doth fill; Whence I, Love's unction poured upon my head, Fare forth refreshed to do His holy will!
IN lone Gethsemane, they say, one watched While others slept, and told of what he saw: And so we have the Gospel tale today. It was dark that night, and the olive trees seemed bent Almost to touch the ground.
Have confidence! In Truth there is no power Save that which comes from God. It burns within Each loving heart to glorify the hour, By bringing hope where hopelessness has been.
The Christ calls, Come, my feast will meet your need; Forsake your worldly tasks and come apart To rest awhile in peace and learn of me; Obedience fulfills expectancy. Not for yourself alone, but for the world, The banner of Truth's power must be unfurled.
Men are not hostile natively In international ill-will, For Spirit works creatively The world with gracious thoughts to fill. Of every color men are kind; Some follow Christ of every race; And, from the treasury of Mind, Men are enriched in every place.
The Master spake in words of love, And bitter doubts were stilled: Ye blest, who hunger after Truth, With Truth shall ye be filled. He marked with Christly tenderness The humble gathered there, And taught them that the meek should claim The wide earth for their share.
Dream not, O child of God, that fear can bind you, Can dim your eyes or fetter your free thought; The power of Love divine strikes off its shackles, Above the waves Christ's voice still calls, Fear not! Dream not that seeming loss can close Love's portal, That lack can hold you fast with iron chains; Nothing is lost of what your God bestoweth, The cup that runneth over still remains. Dream not, O child of God, that sin can hold you; The Father's image has no power to stray.
O Love of God, compassionate and wise, Open our eyes, Cleanse thou our thinking now of sinful fears, Wipe from our faces self-condemning tears; O love of God, compassionate and wise, Open our eyes! O love of Christ, compassionate and free, We come to thee, Ready for service to our brother man; We see our task within the Father's plan. O love of Christ, compassionate and free, We come to thee.