Questions & Answers
Oh , beautiful his feet upon the highway; And silvern is his voice above the crowd, Who publisheth the tidings of salvation, Who telleth all the love of God, aloud! So joyous and so potent is the message, The suffering and sorrowing are healed; The poor and heavy-laden, looking upward, Behold the fount of righteousness unsealed. Oh, blessed are ye, little flock of Jesus, The kingdom of your Father is for you.
When mists of doubt and fear encompass thought, And sorrow, pain, and discord peal seem, Be still and know that Truth, when humbly sought, Reveals all evil as a mortal dream. Look up to God in prayer and find surcease; Love's angels are beside thee all the way— Truth's messengers of harmony and peace.
When wrestling with the visions dark of sense, We may not always clearly see and trace The measures full and workings of God's grace; Yet in the blackest hour, the false pretense Of error's power is but a dream, immense Perhaps, to human thought, and yet untrue. To know this fact fore'er presents for you And me, against the foe, a sure defense.
Alone with Thee upon the mountain height, When shine the stars o'er canopy of night, And gentle moon, aglow with her soft light, Doth rise, proclaiming Love's supremacy, And all is still; 'tis then I do delight To sit and think on Jesus' ministry, Whose every thought and deed was given for Thee. For thus, when wearied by the heat and glare Of day, he sat, and rapt in ceaseless prayer, His burden laid upon Thy loving care, Drew sweet refreshment from Thy helping hand.
I sought a man of God to cure my ill, For I had learned surcease from pain and calm Come not of matter. "Oh, what need I still To do?" I importuned.
When leaves are rustling, branches bend and sway, Then we are sure the wind is here. Although We see it not, its presence we may know By gentle might and powerful interplay.
Then was he known in breaking of the bread, And in the sorrowing two, great joy uprose That he, the carnal mind proclaimed as dead, Was victor proven over all his foes. He went away, but they, with thought inspired, Turned and walked back the long, long way they came, Sharing the kindling hope that he had fired.
Oh , may I never seek to serve Thee, Lord, Through pride of human intellect or will, Nor envy those who, humbler, more unselfed, Thy highest offices so nobly fill! But when, through rising from the things of sense, I hear at last the summons of Thy voice, However lowly or obscure the task, Help me stand steadfast then, yea, and rejoice, Unmoved alike by censure or by praise Of earthly counsels, which must end in dust, But careful only lest I should betray The purpose God-committed to my trust. Lift up my faith to see Thy perfect plan, Which fills the measure of each waiting heart With all the good for which it has made room Through each wise choosing of Love's better part.
Sad-hearted came they at the break of day As the sun rose—and morning mists hung gray Above the olive groves, a silvery veil Of flying shadows, gossamer and pale— Unto the tomb. And did they come in faith That, spite of all, their Lord had conquered death? Nor think him in the grave, asleep, alone? Or had they trust that Love could lift that stone? Swift sorrow turns to joy when, as they come, Two angels greet them from the empty tomb; And with that sweet assurance, "He is risen"! They know their Master freed from death's dark prison.
When gallant hearts put out from earthly shore, Like winging birds that fare beyond our sight, We who keep watch beside the breakers' roar Can know that God directs their onward flight; That in their progress, limitless and free, They still reflect eternal Life, and bear True witness to their immortality While tended by the Father's certain care. We need not keep our gaze upon the line Where last we saw their forms, for they are near In all the qualities of Love's design Expressed around us for our daily cheer; And recognizing this we rise above A sense of loss to claim immortal love.