Questions & Answers
Oh , let me do my work today With singing in my heart, And let me feel the righteous joy Of bearing nobly my full part. For if I strive with purpose pure And love the whole day through, The master of the vineyard keeps Yet higher tasks for me to do.
Peace is an ever operative will to good, A poise, a settled attitude of calm Reliance on the truth, which, understood, Is irresistible and all-pervading as the balm Of woodland scents upon the night, Or the approaching light! And, as the rose unfolds upon the spray, So shall the flowers of love and gentle peace Unfold within the consciousness of men, And discord cease. Imperative, resistless, is the day Which follows dawn.
How wise Elijah was at Zarephath! No self-assertion made him cast aside The widow's meager store of humble food— He let her see it shared and multiplied. Elisha stretched compassionate hands to one Burdened with debts she saw no means to pay; Increased the oil already in her house, Till freed and grateful she could go her way.
O perfect Life, all human sense transcending, Help us to live, from error's thrall be free; Help us to know, our thought on high ascending, That, as we love, we live eternally! O perfect Truth, o'er error's subtle seeming Shine with the light of true reality; Scatter the mists of earth's delusive dreaming; Rend the gray veil, which dims our view of Thee! O perfect Love, help us to help our brother, See him as perfect, Thy reflection be; So shall we come, all loving one another, To see Thee, face to face, in unity! Life, Truth, and Love, one Principle all-guiding, Held in Thy arms we evermore are free. Father and Mother, in Thy love abiding, We find our heavenly home, and dwell with Thee.
Give me, O God, a listening ear, The quiet voice of Truth to hear; A seeing eye, that where I go Thy constant image I may know; A willing hand and patient feet To follow in thy precepts sweet. Steadfast when error clamors: Hence! Give me, O God, obedience.
When the night was dark and still, When the midnight hour was long, Prophet-shepherds on the hill Understood the angels' song. Light that cheered their winter gloom, In that sweet compelling hour, Herald of eternal noon, Promise of eternal power — They beheld its guiding ray, And to Bethlehem were led, Where the gentle Saviour lay In a lowly cattle shed.
On mountain summit shines a beacon light, A star upon the dusky brow of night; And when the darkness binds with econ veil Night's tresses, and the mount grows dimly pale, Powdered with mist, until its outline fades, Enveloped in the pall of midnight shades, Still glows the beacon, shedding benisons Of kindly light upon earth's denizens; In calm or tempest steadfast is its glow, Saying to those who gaze: Take heart and know Though veiled from sight the mountain still is near. Behold, my light upon its brow shines clear! So through our doubt and darkness may there shine The star of inspiration, light benign; Guiding to mount of revelation, whence Man may envision God's omnipotence.
Angels are messengers of Love, Pure thoughts from God to man. Proceeding from the realm of light, Dispersing shades of darksome night, These visitants of heavenly birth Proclaim Love's kingdom come on earth, Dear angels of His presence.
Through the blazing fields of barley, When the grain was in the ear, Jesus led a group of students, In the autumn of the year, Up the thronging, noisy roadway, Till they reached a quiet home, Where the little children gathered, When they saw the loved one come. There he sat and called his followers, Called them to him every one— What was it that they disputed 'Neath the evening's glowing sun? Heedless of the lilies' sweetness Pouring forth at close of day, Each had claimed to be the greatest, As they loitered by the way.
Love guards our flight, When at His firm and wise behest He bids us leave our narrow nest Of cloistered thought and easy rest, And soar to realms of heavenly light Upon His pinions bright. Love spreads broad wings; And by His lifting, holy grace We find a wider, fairer place, The freedom of untrammeled space, Where clearer vision shows us things The nest-view never brings.