Questions & Answers
Give me the cloak of gladness warmly lined To wrap me when the gusts of sorrow blow— Its depth can feel no sudden, arrowy wind Of hurt or disillusionment; and oh, Give me the sandals, wonderful and fleet, Of selfless love—though hasting on my way, I shall find respite in the lives made sweet— I shall wear lightly my increasing day; And for a headpiece, Lord, the helmet bright Of understanding. Then nor moon nor sun Will be, by darkness or by day, my light; But this my light: I am with Thee at one.
O lonely one, do not forget to sing Though shadows gather at the eventide. There is no river, dark and deep and wide, Between you and your own to whom you cling That Jesus did not bridge by sacrifice; The Christ is here, by mortal eyes unseen, With Love supreme and Life that never dies.
I will lift up my heart and voice Though error's claims seem sore; In dauntless faith I will rejoice And sing forevermore. Rejoice in ever present Love That casts out hate and fear, In joyous Life that knows no death, In Truth forever near.
We know a Christmas far above This seeming Christmastide; Christ comes again, as Life and Love— In this truth we abide. Once more the angel voices send Their song o'er all the earth; The Christ-idea they portend Is springing into birth.
Salome! Had you been with me in the boat You would not chide and moan because our boys Have gone with the Beloved from this our home. Let me, Salome, tell you how it came.
A woman of the city came To seek the Master, him whose fame Was noised abroad in all the country round. Unconscious of the scornful looks she met, Of pride, disdain, and anger that beset Each forward step, she paused not, but obeyed The angel-message, answering when she prayed For purity and light, to leave behind The sinful wasted years, and to find Forgiveness and peace in God's dear love.
As eagles rise on mighty wing, Enraptured by the sun's bright fire, So to His very throne I seek— God is the sun of my desire. I mount on wings of joy to reach His habitation, lifted high.
No sense of self can dim our perfect vision, Nor cause the beauty from our lives to fade; We see the shackles from our brother stricken, And, seeing truly, find ourselves new-made.
Today is ours, Its joys, its melodies, its flowers; Small duties, loving deeds, its words of cheer, The chance to smile away the frown or tear. Tomorrow is unborn, nor can we stray, No matter how we try, one step beyond Today.
I stumbled once upon a desert road, Weary, discouraged, sick, and racked with pain; The way was long, and heavy was my load, I prayed to find true rest, and peace to gain, When, at my side, there spoke a gentle voice: Ho, thou that thirsteth, come and follow me Unto the heavenly waters and rejoice, For they are poured for thee eternally; Why spend your strength for that which is not bread, And strive for that which cannot satisfy? I hearkened to the angel, and I saw The fountain whence the healing waters fall. I lifted up my eyes, bescaled before, To know that sense is naught and Love is all.