Questions & Answers
That I may touch a heart, O God, with song; That I may heal a wound, through Truth and Love, Or gently lift some toiler's weary load As o'er the steep and rugged way he strives; That, knowing true compassion, I may free Some sin-bound thought, and lead it toward the light Which ever shines, though men may heed it not, While dreams of mortal sense hold blinding sway; That, knowing full at-one-ment, Lord, with Thee, Its ever perfect peace I may attest, Though storm-tossed waves at times should seem to roll, And mortal night its darkest clouds should spread. Such is my longing hope, my constant prayer; Thus would I ever share Thy treasured gifts; For Thy all-truth, and life, and love supply The needs of all who come with childlike trust.
Love spread the feast, then bade me come and eat, Drink the sweet wine, and taste the heavenly bread; But I did eat the fruits of emptiness, And drank of dreams instead. Within the deepness of this cup lay grief, Regret, and hidden bitterness and pain; Across the hurrying phantom of the years, Love called to me again.
As when, triumphant o'er the grim array Of leaden clouds drawn up in seeming might, The sun, a living splendor, greets the day And floods a waiting world with warmth and light, So, through the doubts and fear of humankind, From Zion, in her beauty, "God hath shined. " Earth's lessons were so hard to understand; Its devious ways so dim and meaningless, Till, cleaving clouds of error, Love's command Pointed the way, a lamp to guide and bless; And on the eager, thirsty, waiting mind, From Zion, in her beauty, "God hath shined.
I gazed upon the lilac buds one cold and bleak spring day, All pinched with midnight frosts, but bravely waiting for the sun; I grieved a little, for they seemed so thwarted on their way, So checked in life's endeavor, that had only just begun. And then I thought, beyond it all, tho' hidden from our sight, God's sun shines on eternally, with warmth of truth and love; And the patience of the lilac buds, just waiting for the light, Revived my slack'ning energies Love's radiant power to prove.
For the last time he gained the mountain's height: The plains beneath him lay: we know he paused, Now at the summit of his earthly path, And gazed once more adown the dimming years: Saw the sweet face that launched him on the flood Of Nile: proud yet compassionate, the level brows Of royal Egypt: Miriam, well beloved By God and man, sister and prophetess: Aaron, the mouthpiece of the Word of God, Brother, yea more than brother, faithful friend: And Zipporah, with eyes whence pain had passed. Dear dreams! fair shadows of reality.
In the dawn of this new day, When the air is clear, Untainted by the mists of man's material living, In true humility I come to Thee, To lay upon Love's altar My simple off'ring: Ev'ry impure, unkind, or idle thought, All envy, jealousy, or senseless fear,— All that denies Thine omnipresence. Consume with fire this mortal dross, And from the ashes may there then arise That spiritual sense of Thee, O Mind divine, Whose thoughts it is my eager joy to image forth!
As when a pilgrim sees on far hill crest Tall spires and burnished domes against the sun, And yearns to reach, before the day is done, This city fair with promises,—and rest; And, goading self, sets eager feet to test His strength; and has no wish to shun The journey that seems ever just begun; And finds, in glad surprise, his shining quest Is but a brighter aspect of the glow That shone around his early path, and fired His first fine endeavor: so, years but show Time's measurements. The flaming life desired Is light, and near, and found in constant flow Of thought to God, serene and love-inspired.
When to the wilderness our Master went, Three angel friends did bear him company: Courage, the first, strong warder of the thought! Amid the loneliness, distrust, and doubt, Fearless and undisturbed he ably stood, With heart unwavering, and with head unbowed. Next, Patience, gentle handmaid of the heart, Strong toiler, firm, and faithful as the day! Ready to serve; no lesser joy she seeks; Living to love.
O'er all, the sunshine of Thy presence beameth. Although my earthborn eyes be dim with tears, To that clear inner sight that knows no darkness, The glow and glory of the Christ appears.
When the way seems steep and rugged, And the day is dark and cold; When the little sheep has wandered From the shepherd's shelt'ring fold; Oh, 'tis blessed to remember That wherever we may roam, There's a tender voice still calling, "He is mindful of His own. " Though we make our bed in heaven, Or in depths of bitt'rest hell, In the mountains, on the desert, 'Neath church dome, in prison cell, In the midst of friends and loved ones, Or when far away from home, What a comfort to remember, "He is mindful of His own!" In the strife of daily living, While we're conquering griefs and fears, Still we see Truth's banner waving As the smoke of battle clears.