Questions & Answers
To Abraham's friendly door three angels came. The patriarch offered water for their feet; With joy he offered bread, and rest most sweet.
Sweet is it to stay on this assured fact, that pallid want and gaunt importunate woe are travail of an alien sense, no more my own than are the shadows that men tread upon. No thought can jar, nor pain, nor circumstance, nor any want, nor sickness, nor distress, nor doleful weariness, that happy man who walks unharmed the holy courts of heaven.
I dwelt content in my good place, Prepared, I thought, for me. My brother came and took away My place, my work, my happy day.
Truth ever cries: Behold the man! Cast all your doubt away, Accept him as the Son of God, Complete in radiant day! But we with blinded eyes, and ears Made deaf by error's lie, See not the spirit of his love , But "Crucify him!" cry. May we behold the glorious light, The Christ's clear radiancy, And know our unity with God, With Truth, which maketh free.
He cares not that his song be heard, He sings for joy, that little bird Whose heart is full of happiness. Early as the sun's first ray, Before he breaks his fast, his lay Rings out and proves his trust in God.
For shelter, food, and strength I do not plead; I know God satisfies my every need. Within the one true source there is no lack, And from His own no good doth He hold back.
Stumbling, I halt, Not knowing how to pray; And yet, what matter if the words I say Seem impotent or groping as a child's? True thought is prayer, And thought when undefiled Is known to Him; Each humble deed and each unselfed desire, Each thought that to the perfect doth aspire, Each tender yearning to include all men In universal love! Perfected, then, My prayer. He hears this righteous call Through darkest night.
There are things that the senses cannot hear, That come singing into thought, The beautiful, perfect chords of good, That the hearing ear has caught. And grand and true are the things unseen That the seeing eye beholds, When its eager gaze is turned upon The vision that Love unfolds.
Why is the battle so prolonged, Why war I as one bound? Why do you struggle so, dear child? Truth knows no battleground. Why do the hosts of pain and fear Encamp about this child? There are no demon hosts in Life, For Life is undefiled Why do the scornful tongues of earth Make mockery of peace? Love knows no mocking tongue, my child; In joy all strivings cease.
God's laborers all may rest assured That they can never work alone, For He beside them works and guides— He watches and protects His own. What time they stumble, He is near, To raise them with His steady hand; They wait on Him, and find the way His thoughtful kindliness has planned.