Poems

That human will may yield to Love's control And love abide where love seems not to be; That men may come to know themselves as whole And free, as God knows man, and steadfastly Obey the rules by which true peace shall reign— As reign, indeed, it surely must when men From evil turn aside and drop their vain And cruel ways. With opened eyes they then Will love their neighbor, far and near; each day Love more.

Even as the Father, So the son must be— Likeness of His being, Shining constantly; Clear and flawless image, Perfectly defined, Radiantly reflecting Qualities of Mind.

Woman of Shunem, how truly great you were! Did you admit belief your child had died? Ah, no! "It shall be well," you said, And sought the man of God instead. And to his question, "Is it well?" you swift replied, "It is well," then waited trustingly outside Elisha's door.

Come ye into the courts of God With joyous psalms of praise, For God is King above all kings, The keeper of our ways. His courts afford security From every mortal foe; They give us shelter from the blasts When winds of error blow.

All day I wandered in the valley, The valley of Achor, full of trouble, dark and drear; Until at eve Wearily I climbed the mountain, looking for the view, But disappointed found Only the clouds about me. Sadly I cried, "O God, I cannot see.

Does light hate darkness? No, all unaware, It banishes each shadow. Does truth hate The lie that it dissolves? It knows it not, And this unknowing puts the lie to rout, Removes, erases it from consciousness.

Wherever I may be, His Word Comes like a challenge newly heard, Yet old of meaning, with the ring Of timeless Truth re-echoing Along the passage of dark days. Bewildered in this mortal maze That men call life, I pause to hear The guiding promise, and all fear Is pierced and shattered by the sword Of His quick and powerful Word.

Are we not serving when we wait on God? And doing this, may we not prove That in this very serving we are loving Him? And each may have the joy of doing this, Perhaps expressed in quietness—a silence filled with peace— Or oftentimes through spoken words With gentleness put forth. Whatever seems to be the need, Love ever waits to bless Each one who firmly stands Unmoved, in trusting faithfulness.

A blackbird from an elm, the topmost part, Was lifting up to God his inmost heart In gratitude. Unbounded joy arose, too, like a flood Within my heart; more singing rose and grew, And then I knew: "This is my Father's business," this for all The only work there is—truly to be, To glorify His nature, and His praise Show forth; in Him be glad, rejoice always In Truth.

Each day that comes to me is a new day, God's day, in which He will disclose to me another way, more opportunity to manifest His graciousness in word and deed. He will unfold His plan for me yet more in this new day in which old things have passed away, all things are new—new thoughts, new words, new deeds.