Questions & Answers
In bitterness I sat me down to weep, When lo, a sunbeam touched my bended head. I closed the shade to shut out all the light, And hark, a bird song filtered through the dark! I stopped my ears, and would not hear the song.
He who gives kindness in return for hate, Who sees his own mistakes, nor calls these fate, Who lives serenely, nor avenges wrong— He is not weak, he is divinely strong.
" Thy kingdom come"—how long, O Lord, how long? Where is the promised land? Thy people cry, and like an angel's song The voice of Truth Proclaims it close at hand. Not in some far-off place beyond the sky, Nor in some future state— That realm for which the heavy-laden sigh Is here and now; We do not have to wait.
Falter not if the moment Hold aught of doubt or pain; Rise to the mount of vision. Lo, in the misted plain, As in the days of the Master, The laborers are few.
Science of Christ, man's perfect union sealing With tender love that knows nor hate nor fear, Wisdom's great strength that binds all hearts, revealing The perfect oneness of God's children dear! Thus, far or near, no sense of separation, No pride, no prejudice that seems to be, Can hinder us in love's great demonstration Or rob God's children of their unity.
Spring , the recurring, forevermore bringing Joy in rich fullness, in gladness upspringing; Touched by no sadness we watch its receding, Sure its return waits no sorrowful pleading; Glad of its promise, its questioning truth— Why not thus joy in the presence of youth? Spring, the unchanging, with fragrance upwelling, Ever exultant, of sweet fruitage telling, Sunshine or shade, with rich promises teeming, Certain of future triumphant redeeming, Never a murmur of doubting—forsooth, Shall we not thus reckon largely with youth? Spring, the eternal, time's passage defying, All of its ravages calmly denying, Year after year in glad freshness unfolding— Ah, our sad eyes are slow in beholding! When in spring's advent we vision God's truth, Then shall we harbor perennial youth!
Oh, that I may behold Thy beauty, Lord, In some small part Thy wisdom comprehend; The favored earth is but Thy footstool, Lord; How must Thy grace eternal all transcend! So much of love and beauty poured forth here, The heart impelled lifts up, Divinity! Then bow we low in holy orisons — What is the measure of infinity? A star-gemmed, firmament-encircled home, Bedecked and drawn in splendor by the sun, The music of the spheres where'er we roam, 0 beauteous world! Thy footstool, perfect One!
At-one with Thee, O Life divine, The way, illumined, upward leads, And from the shadowy valley winds, For human sense no longer pleads. At-one with Thee, O Truth divine, False concepts vanish, errors fall, For naught unlike Thyself finds place Within the thought where Truth is all.
I am content. Whatever winds may blow, or foul or fair, God gives me wings to breast the blast, or ride On lofty pinions plumed for heavenward flight, The crystal airs of rarer atmospheres Above the storm.
When we have learned to love our fellow man As Jesus loved, and truly understand The nothingness of error, sin, and pain, We can go forth with joy and peace and power And prove Christ's living presence hour by hour, With comforting and healing works again. When we have learned that God is our supply, We do not fret, nor fear, nor question why We cannot see the path that lies ahead; But we can happy be each busy day, And trust, as does the little child at play, The Love that meets our every need, instead.