Questions & Answers
He ate the unwholesome husk the swine did eat, He fain would fill his hunger with the mast Of oak and beech, or rugged root upcast; And none would help: his misery was complete. And in the dust of penitence and pain He gained humility and lost his pride, Like Naaman when he dipped in Jordan's tide, And found the harmonious path of peace again.
Across the far hills did you see a light That beckoned you to follow—as you might? And did you stumble forward, caring nought For brambles, could you reach the goal you sought? O weary one, how fruitless seemed the fight! How often were you plunged in depths of night, Until at last a sign to you was given That pierced the gloom and lifted you to heaven! Then nearer, close at hand, the light was seen, And there, you now know, it had ever been; But that your straining gaze had missed the glow Of its soft radiance, shining here below. And now you strive no more, but calmly rest, Assured that all God's children here are blest; For once awake, earth's dreams and shadows flee, Since Love, and Love alone, enfoldeth thee.
As from the distant skies, to sight unknown, Descends through heat of day the cooling shower, Giving refreshment to the grass and flower, That seem in summer's drought awearied grown: The gentle rain from out of heaven blown, Of Love's invisible and tender power, In heated error's inharmonious hour, Doth soothe the troubled thought till fear hath flown. And, wakening from its dream, the morning light Hath chased the dismal darkness round about: 'Twas but a fleeting phantom of the night, For Love's sweet freshness is within, without— Eternal springtime in each heart blooms bright, And leaves no taint of weariness or doubt.
For gladdened heart, now filled with love to overflowing; For thought inspired, in grateful deeds outgoing; For bounteous harvests, beyond our feeble sowing,— Give praise. For life that as the eagle its strength reneweth; For peace that by still waters its way pursueth; For brotherly love that the will of the Father doeth,— Give praise.
It was but yesterday I lay beside The gate called Beautiful, where entered in A ceaseless, ever changing stream of men; The most to pray, and some perchance to mock. And mine it was to ask an alms of these, Some scant material offering to receive To satisfy material needs,—the while Something within me hungered and cried out Against the seeming emptiness of all.
The sun creeps round my window-side,— How fair thou art, young day, And thou, so marvelously wide, Thou sky-blue passageway To God's dear happiness! The birds are singing sweet and clear; The bells, I hear them ring. Yes, Father God, Thy call I hear, I too will come and sing.
Not yesterday, tomorrow, but today Holds all of good for all. Th' impartial sun Shines not alone for the more beauteous flower, But reaches where the humblest blade of grass Works its way up through leaves last autumn shed, And strengthens it with warm life-giving glow.
" The sons of God," and "now" are we the same: So read a gentle voice when prayer was done. The daylight was gone out, but at that name I knew my day was only just begun: For how the vision of the Christ's loved one Dawned luminous! I was a son, a son! Now, through the avenue of Mind, I thought Unto the very home of God to fare: I knew no hidden snare, no toil, but sought A sweet uplifted path to lead me there.
Upon the wind of heaven the tones he heard That Adam heard in Eden, and the word Was wonderful, and in his heart it stirred A longing to uprise from faith to sight. Soft on the silver night the numbers fall, "Give me thine heart, my son: give me thine all: If thou wilt gain thy guerdon, heed the call.
Inasmuch as thou hast ventured in the turmoil and the doubt, And with clearer thought of Truth hast turned the hosts of terror out; Though gratitude or guerdon rare were never offered thee, Thou hast done it unto me, beloved, hast done it unto me. Inasmuch as thou hast labored oft, aye! seemingly in vain, To lift away the burden from a brother bent in pain; Though blessing were not whispered, nor a smile rewarded thee, Thou hast done it unto me, brave heart, hast done it unto me.