Questions & Answers
Bound by strong hands and sure, with fingers deft, Unknowing hands, that moved but to obey Untoward commands; of human hope bereft— Relentless lions waiting for their prey— Yet was no tremor refuged in his eye, No faltering footstep failed the chosen path, No backward glance—as one about to die— No vain regrets; no bitterness or wrath. With steadfast faith and gentle thoughts of love, Must he have met, perchance, the lowering rope; These could not shake his trust in God, nor move A purpose full of courage as of hope! Thus Truth and Love shut fast the mouth of rage, And Mind was glorified on Scripture's page.
May the coming of the dawn, With its tender shafts of rose, Be the symbol to my thought Of that Light divine that glows With a gentle, healing touch, Scattering dark and troubled thought With the hope, and cheer, and grace That are ever with it fraught. May the sunlight's shimmering gold, Causing earth to bud and flower, Make me think of God's dear love, With its wondrous joy and power.
Give me, O God, the knowledge that can see Whatever stands between myself and Thee, Be it self-will, self-love, or pride of thought, That keeps me from the perfect self I've sought— A clear transparency to daily be, That Thou may'st shed Thy healing love through me. With deep humility I'll cast aside Each earth-born thought and in Thy truth abide, That longer still no mist may cloud my gaze, No pent-up sinful thought its voice may raise; As self-esteem goes down, thought will arise To man's true being and to Soul-filled skies.
" The sons of God"—the benediction falls Upon the listening ear, And everyone who understands shall know His Father holds him dear. This is the blessing that is ours to-day; We have our rightful place, And in the affluence of our Father's love We find our daily grace.
"God requireth that which is past. "— Ecclesiastes 3:15.
"A rose, the smile of God. "—Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 175.
If Eastertide should seem to thee A time when thou rememberest With sharpest pang of memory Those who have passed, whom thou lov'dst best, Know that in all thy seeming loss— To mortal sense a grievous thing— The human presence did but pass. They, with clear vision, see the King, In Spirit live, Love's arms beneath; For Spirit knows nor fear nor death.
Help me, dear Father, all the day To see Thy love in everything, In flower-hued colors of the dawn, And happy bird upon the wing; To see Thy love in golden light Of sunshine touching hill and field, And in the beauty of the world That by its shining is revealed; Thy love to see in dimming light Of twilight shadows softly gray, And in the shining stars above, Each sending down its golden ray! Help me to see Thy tender love In kindly faces that I meet, And in the joyous little ones Who pass me by on dancing feet; And thus, in all things sweet and fair, To see Thy goodness and Thy love, The blessings from Thine own dear hand That fall so gently from above.
What is thy hope? How oft the word we use! But canst thou give a reason for thy hope As through what seems unending gloom ye grope, Till, losing hope, all comfort ye refuse? Ah, it is thine; aye, it is thine to choose The dismal dirge, or gain the key to ope The door to freedom—Soul's unbounded scope— And take the good that man can never lose! Lift up! Lift up thy dormant thought and see Thy holy heritage, which Truth unveils! No faltering, fearful hope—if hope it be! Gain understanding's hope, which never fails: True hope is anchored in eternal Mind, Where needful good we long for we may find.
Ope Thou mine ear, dear Lord, that I may hear Thy Word, and hearing hasten to obey; Let not the clamoring voice of sense dissuade, Nor fear my glad obedience delay. In Thy rich vineyard, Lord, give me a place Where with faith-strengthened hands I may remove The stifling weeds of self, or grief, or fear From some sad heart who has not learned to love.