Questions & Answers
Deep in the dark abysmal hours of night, Depressed, discouraged with lost years of toil, There came an angel thought, with morning's light: Would'st learn God's plan, or ever till the soil? No loss, ingratitude, nor wasted years Can ever dim the light on Love's highway; Rejoice, thou wanderer, turn from those fears! And so, with grateful heart, I rise and pray: Dear God, I thank Thee now for Truth's clear day, Irradiant with the light of Life and Love. Give me illumination, that I may In this benighted world Thy goodness prove.
I will not leave you comfortless! No more your empty hands shall plead Through barren years. No more shall care Spread spurious lines upon your brow.
Oh , make me simple in my speech, That I may simply speak of Thee, When patient seekers for Thy love Shall come and ask of me. And let me simply live my life, And humbly walk my steps with Thee; Then may I lead the lame, the blind, Up in their thought to Thee.
Oh , grieve not—fear not! God who guided thee Doth call the wayward, wheresoe'er they roam. The truth that brake thy bonds will set them free, The love that tended thee will lead them home.
With eyes of shining gentleness And lustrous faith serene— With patience, courage, industry, The pioneers are seen! They break the yoke of dominance With love that conquers hate, And meekly on omnipotence With expectation wait. They see the ever-open door That to dull eyes is barred; With burning zeal their day illumed, Their night with faith is starred! They dare to tread the untrod path, To chart the unknown sea, To bring into the cleansing light The unholy mystery.
O healing Christ! so calm my troubled heart That all its anguished questionings are still; Lead thou me on, from blinding doubt apart, To recognize and do thy perfect will, Obeying thee in thought and word and deed, Rejoicing in thy wondrous law of right, From error's thrall in fuller measure freed, Emerging more and more into the light. Be mine the joy this saving light to bring To others who amid the shadows stray, With might and meekness truly ministering To those athirst, and hungering by the way.
Is hard the way? Does error flaunt its claim With sickness, lack, discouragement, or shame? Do friends desert and trusted ones defame And cherished hopes turn ashes in the flame? Have selfless gifts been spurned? Is blame Returned for consecration to His name? Oh, then, rejoice! For great His love of thee. These tests of faith are opportunity To prove thy God, to learn humility, To grasp the truth and shake the fetters free.
When error tempts my wayward feet to stray, Lord may I see Life holds no joy or pleasure, hope or peace, Severed from Thee. When sorrow, pain, or sin would fetter me, I can abide In that sure freedom of sustaining Love, Close to Thy side.
Dear Father, to my waiting heart Thy gift of gentleness bestow, That all my actions and my words With this sweet Christliness may glow. The tender touch of gentleness Is sweet as fragrance from a flower, And heavy burdens fall away When touched by its God-given power.
The hands of wisdom build my house; In consciousness it is designed To stand secure upon the rock, To glorify the might of Mind. And holy beauty lends her hands, Unveils perfection's purity In strength of line, in colors rare, In forms of grace and symmetry.