Questions & Answers
That I an able minister may be, Three gifts, O Father-Mother, God, I ask of Thee: The first, a swift compassion, to discern The human need, the tired feet to turn From false meanderings in error's way, Towards the light of day. The next, the wisdom and the love and grace To set my own thought free of every trace Of personal sense, that when my brother brings To me, with joy, his sweet and sacred things, I may appreciate, and glory give to God, And in the holy presence of his vision stand unshod.
We wake to worship as the birds to song; Joyful with praise, let all our voices be; Fountainward do they flit the whole day long— May we seek Truth's clear streams as constantly Eager as they, life-giving drafts drink in; Freely as they, on wings of purpose rise; Truth soars triumphant over pain and sin; The Love we worship all around us lies.
O happy , happy thought, that I am thine And Thou, the All-inclusive, must be mine! O happy, restful thought! Where'er I roam, In consciousness divine I have my home. O happy, radiant thought, that pangs of night Are vanquished by the prayer, "Let there be light"! O happy, healing thought! Though sick I seem, I can awake and know 'its but a dream.
The government is on His shoulders, He alone divides the sea. His the voice that says, "Go forward" In the path of liberty.
How shall I prove my joy, my boundless gratitude For this illumined sense of all-pervading good? Oh, may I firmer be in Truth, dear Lord, Withhold the censuring and impatient word, Know phantom fears as naught, more loving be, Quick to divine my neighbor's need and see Man as he is — the full reflection Of infinite, immutable perfection. So may I daily lift each thought to Love, My joy, my boundless gratitude, to prove.
Father , lift me to the light, Out of darkness, out of night; Teach me, that I may behold Wonders sung by seers of old. Help me, Father, to descry Sights beyond the mortal eye, Vistas of Thy heavenly plan That Thou hast prepared for man; Where angelic soft refrain Whispereth, There is no pain, Neither death, nor sin, nor fear, Only Love itself is here, Omnipotent, omniscient One, Love and its beloved Son.
Poor Hagar, banished to the wilderness, Had not one human friend to help or save; The precious water in the bottle spent— How could her burdened mother-heart be brave? The little lad, less able to endure, Already felt the desert's parching breath; She laid him down, and then withdrew a space— She could not see her loved one suffer death. But, as she wept, an angel voice awoke New reassurance with the calm command, "Arise, lift up the lad.
"Evil is a negation: it never started with time, and it cannot keep pace with eternity. "—Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 107.
Why should we sorrow when God made no sorrow, Shed piteous tears when there's no truth in weeping, Holding false fears for an unknown tomorrow, When All is now— and time but mortal sleeping? Let us rejoice that sorrow cannot bind us, Nor dim the eyes that shine with faith and peace— We who have proved our Father's love will find us And lead the Christ-given way of sure release! Let us like David, that great Psalmist-king, Join fervent hearts and voices in glad singing, Making the Almighty's grateful praises ring In every land, a gospel tribute bringing; For loving words of praise, hymned with true feeling, Pleasant are to God, and pleasing Him is healing.
So long, it seems, I've waited, Lord, So wearily the days pass by, And still my demonstration lags— Wilt Thou not hear and heed my cry? All day I read Thy promises, All night I lift my prayer to Thee, Yet error's claim seems unrelieved, And still no answer comes to me. I know Thy truth is ever near, And is omnipotent, supreme; What is the needful thing I lack To break this erring mortal dream? "Poor suffering one, why struggle so? Mine is the battle; thine the peace That victory brings.