We thought when we were troubled, or in sorrow, or in pain,
If our pow'r of will redoubled we perhaps could smile again;
We would try to keep our dear ones from the sorrow they would feel
If we dropped the forced appearance of a joy that was not real.
And we sometimes quite succeeded in our effort—for a time;
But a stronger pow'r was needed; pain can will pow'r undermine.
And the depths of woe we sounded when the false support gave way,
For our thoughts of life were bounded by belief in matter's sway.
Then we read the truth of being, from the pen of one who knew,
Through her spiritual seeing, what the Word of God could do.
And we learned that good is ever the true consciousness of man,
That the pains of sense have never been a part of God's great plan;
Where before we saw minds many, filled with thoughts both good
and bad,
We now learned there was not any save the Mind Christ Jesus had.
Then we found our troubles vanished as the mist before the sun,
For this understanding banished pains and sorrows, every one.
Old false beliefs may tempt us now to use our human will.
To say to others when and how God's law they shall fulfill.
Then, if we turn to Principle, to still the tempter's voice,
Our trust in Truth invincible will make our hearts rejoice;
For the true interpretation of God's law comes from above,
To each man, and church, and nation, through the working out
of love.
Shall we think to guide our brothers, when they, too, may turn to
God?
Just to love is helping others. Christ will lead them where he trod.
