Questions & Answers
Watch! for He comes to you! Maybe at midnight, when your questing soul Is sick with hope deferred and peace is gone, You'll hear that quickening voice — "Rise, you are whole. " Or at cock-crowing, like the star that shone In the Far East, that beckoning wonder light, Herald of peace on earth, of hope and bliss, He'll come.
Absalom stole the heart of Israel: Why should he not? Beautiful was he And without blemish, the fairest lamb of the flock: And, when he stole the heart of Israel, He stole also his father David's heart. David loved beauty even when it had betrayed him: So, deep in grief at Mahanaim's gates, He waited for some word of Absalom.
As softly falling rain on parched ground, When summer drought hath spent itself at last, With gentle touch softens and penetrates The hardness of its cracked and arid face, Bidding the lowly herb and drooping flower Uplift their cups to the refreshing draft, And perfumes to arise at its behest To pour their fragrance on the limpid air; So may Thine angel thoughts o'er me descend, Those thoughts, that ever pass from God to man, Telling of freedom of a mind made pure When sense of self and sin hath passed away; And with Thy truth inspire my stubborn heart, Grown heavy 'neath a weight of doubt and fear, To feel its holy influence all-divine, And, like the thirsty flower, uplift my face To drink of Thine abundance and rejoice. Then, as the perfume, may my thoughts arise, Diffusing sweet aroma all around, To help and heal the weary hearts of men, That they may feel Love's tender ministry, And joy to find Life's richer, fuller bloom Within the gladness of their gratitude, And rest content.
Let not hate, nor lust, nor greed Dull my eyes or dim my sight: Help me see my brother's need, Separate the wrong from right. Father, make me patient, wise; Keep me steadfast, strengthen me, That with clear and loving eyes Man's perfection I may see.
Be still and know, and thereby thou shalt gird Thy day with boundless love. Untouched, unstirred By fancies vain, by bane, or bitter thrust; Thou shalt translate thine all-inspiring trust, Wide-visioned with the wisdom of His Word.
Far off may seem the unattained, But what we hope and strive for, prayingly, is gained. Like rainfall to revive the flower Arrives the answer in beneficence of power.
There is a path no fowl hath ever known, Which no voracious vulture's eye hath seen, A hiding where no eagle yet hath flown, A highway where no lion thought hath been, A place where only harmony is found, Where man, God's perfect image, ever dwells— E'en like the unshod patriarch's holy ground— Where love with peace discordant fear dispels. Truth doth alone reveal this secret place, Leading the earnest heart where it may learn How man, idea, dwelleth face to face With incorporeal God.
Truth waiteth not on cycle, nor on season; straight from their deep foundations upward spring the strong affirmatives of Love's pure reason beyond all argument or questioning. And as each premise, mounting to conclusion, on steady wing its course unerring holds, beyond all compromise, above confusion, perfect effect from perfect cause unfolds.
Oh , joy unspeakable that I should hear The voice of God. I thought it was a man Who called my name.
Dear Lord, we wait in silent adoration, For Thy still voice which tells us how to pray; Humbly we kneel before Thy throne of glory; Father divine, Thou art our strength and stay. O gentle presence, ever with us dwelling, In whose sweet sanctuary deepest peace is found; Grant us the joy that comes to those victorious, Give us the power that freeth those embound.