Questions & Answers
What is thy hope? How oft the word we use! But canst thou give a reason for thy hope As through what seems unending gloom ye grope, Till, losing hope, all comfort ye refuse? Ah, it is thine; aye, it is thine to choose The dismal dirge, or gain the key to ope The door to freedom—Soul's unbounded scope— And take the good that man can never lose! Lift up! Lift up thy dormant thought and see Thy holy heritage, which Truth unveils! No faltering, fearful hope—if hope it be! Gain understanding's hope, which never fails: True hope is anchored in eternal Mind, Where needful good we long for we may find.
Ope Thou mine ear, dear Lord, that I may hear Thy Word, and hearing hasten to obey; Let not the clamoring voice of sense dissuade, Nor fear my glad obedience delay. In Thy rich vineyard, Lord, give me a place Where with faith-strengthened hands I may remove The stifling weeds of self, or grief, or fear From some sad heart who has not learned to love.
Oh , happy river, Skipping, dancing, singing; I love to hear your voice With laughter ring. You trip so merrily along, You seem to sing a joyous song, I seem to hear the message Which you bring.
To be a help in thought, in word, in deed, To lift up those who come to him in need, To heal all grief, to comfort such as mourn, Is living love — the Christ again is born. To cast out sin and set a brother free, To cause the deaf to hear, the blind to see, The lame to walk, the sick their freedom find Through knowing Truth, reflecting perfect Mind — This is the gift bestowed on those who lay Their all upon the altar and obey His law, and see the pathway brighter grow In leading where the healing waters flow.
Who shall ascend into His holy hill, I heard; or who stand in His holy place? He with clean hands, and pure of heart, who still Hath not known vanity, deceit, finds grace! And I was troubled at this high demand, For sense imputed what was not in Mind: Could I, so weak and errant, hope to stand In that high tabernacle, God-enshrined? So far from perfect, sense-beclouded, I?— Grace infinite alone, in later age, Could make me truly fit. But Love said, Why? Can man, God's image, lose his heritage? Not time nor the accuser's claims have power, But unselfed love.
A shimmering light on a storm-spent sea, A star in the shadowy west; A silent prayer for humility, A turbulent heart at rest; O infinite Love, with Thy brooding calm And Thy wealth of grace divine, Freely Thou givest Thy healing balm, And peace, unmeasured, is mine!
I will rejoice and sing, for God looks down And smiles on me. What though the whole world frown? I will rejoice again, for God can see The humble heart of ceaseless prayer in me.
Dear Father-Mother God, one Lord, How all-inclusive is Thy unity! The distant stars, the undulating grain, The endless charm and rich variety That fill the universe, reflect but Thee; And safe within Thy perfect love and care Lie all the tender things we hold most dear! Thine is the one and only law— No power is there to thwart Thy holy will. "Tis but the phantom of a mortal dream Would tempt us to admit foreboding ill Or feel that we possess, aside from Thee.
God of all comfort, let me be So near to Thee That I may share with those who are distressed The knowledge of Thy love, to give them rest; And so Thy peace May dwell with them, and bring to grief surcease. But if the way should seem too long, Love brings a song To hearts which have forgotten how to praise Thy constant goodness, shown in wondrous ways, And so have seemed To be apart from Thee, as those who dreamed.
If we can give each day one healing thought To help alleviate another's pain, If we can ease another's load one jot, That day has not, by us, been lived in vain. If we can do each day one loving deed God-given, that will lift another's care; A helpful word to meet another's need, That day, for us, has been a day of prayer.