Poems

The gift I bring is an old and beautiful painting To hang on memory's wall. A wedding day In Galilee, in Cana, is the setting; And one among the guests has found a way To point to Spirit at this feast of gaiety By changing water into ruby wine, Giving to insufficiency discernment That good is far removed when men resign To limitation.

Sweeter than the honeycomb The ease that follows pain, And warmer than the summer sun After a chilling rain The peace that follows after strife When friend greets friend again; And honey sweet the abundant meat Where seeming lack has been. How joyous is the heart that knows The Father's perfect plan, That sees the boundless good He sends In loving care for man.

I have today in which to prove The presence of Thy changeless love, Thy healing grace for living's art : The hallowed thought, the childlike heart, The tenderness Love gives to man, Joy to fulfill Life's glorious plan; Strength to resist, should error fight, Relying only on Thy might. I have today to work for Thee— To lift the bruised one tenderly, To point the upward way, to free The one bowed down in misery; To love my neighbor as I should, To quickly see and claim the good; Each hour to fill at Thy behest With Christ, the ever-present guest.

This fair new day I turn to God and pray; I do not ask for anything, but praise The everlasting perfectness of Love, The beauty and the grandeur of Love's ways I rest in Love and feel its quickening power; I find pure solace in Love's gentle voice Assuring me the universe is good. I contemplate Love's wisdom and rejoice!

What joy it is to know that I Do not depend on strength of man; That I may lean on God This very hour, and ever can, To know His infinite design, For all God has to give is mine. What blessed joy it is to know The Father's tender, watchful care In which His child abides Is my own heritage to share.

The valley lay in shadows deep and dark; Ice-blighted trees stood in the bitter air. It was a dreary, desolated place That showed no life nor beauty anywhere.

When stumbling beggars stopped him in the streets, With arms outstretched, to plead for light, The Master only asked, "Believest thou?" And touched their darkened eyes with sight. "Believest thou?" Look deep within your thoughts When claims resist the healing Word.

The rising thought shall meet the Christ ascending And glimpse the radiant life that is unending. No stone can stay the resurrection morn, No fetters bind God's man, who is free born.

With what shall I buy oil—buy consecration, Time set apart for loving, serving Thee? I know. Discard all idle conversation; And be not proud, my heart, nor fearful be.

With grace and buoyancy he trod the wave, And then he said to you and me, "The works that I do, you shall also do, And greater. " O Master, may I heed this lesson! The message and example are so clear, The law unchanged, supporting still The greater works remaining to be done.