Questions & Answers
There is a holiness That dwells about our common earth, A loveliness and shining tenderness. He is blessed who, because aware of these , Possesses them: He walks illumined as by God.
As trees are wise and faithful, With each year sending deep and yet deeper still Their roots, holding to mother earth With firmness, constancy, and love, So that when winter comes With all its gales and woes They have the courage Born of unity And stand, knowing no fear, But only growing stronger in the blast— So may my understanding go Deeper and deeper with each passing year— Grasping in no uncertain way The basic truth of being, That when cold malice, anger, fear, And all the hosts of evil rage As tempests round about me, Then shall I stand, serene, forever one With Principle, unchanging Love, So rooted, grounded, born And bred in Love, That I am simply conscious of Reality. The storms of error sweeping on Shall leave me with A new stability, A bigger power to shelter, succor.
New Englanders have claimed her as their kin, But there are ties beyond localities, And there was that which made her more the twin Of prophet or apostle than of these. Elijah's mantle touched her as it passed, And Daniel shared the courage of his den, Israel's manna broke her selfless fast, And John taught her the high art of his pen.
" And when he came to himself"—we read these words In that rich story which the Master told And left for us who come to ponder on, That story of the wayward prodigal. (It was a day when sinners had drawn near, And roused the scorn of scribe and Pharisee.
Dost thou hear a call arise, Out of dark and troubled skies, Out of error's awful night? Look not on the lightning flash, Wait not for the thunder crash, Only know where power lies. Doth not God untroubled stand, Sovereign of the sea and land, Master of the billow's fate? Ask of Him, for He hath given Victory in earth and heaven; Truth is certain, therefore wait.
When time seemed long and days were heavy-laden, Weighed down with fear and doubt and fleshly ill, I struggled on, nor sensed God's loving presence, Nor heard the sweet voice saying, "Peace, be still. " I had not learned that Love is all-sufficient To answer every need, though great or small; I did not know our Father comprehendeth And taketh note of e'en the sparrow's fall.
O weary one, long searching for the day, Faint not, nor fear, though rough the unused way, Since Love is near; and Love's refining fires Will separate the gold and leave the clay, For Love inspires. And though the sense-clouds lower and swift tears start, 'Tis but illusion.
Father , the hour is come When, like the prodigal, I see I must arise and wend my way to Thee, Secure in knowing that Thy tender love Is ever waiting to forgive my sin, And prove Thy pardon by destruction Of its seeming power and victory. The husks of old beliefs and outworn creeds Have failed to satisfy.
A heart once sighed in sad dismay. So real seemed sorrow, sin, and fear, That God was thought aye far away; 'Twas not discerned that Love was near.
This is the day the Lord hath made! To-day I will rejoice; in it I will be glad. No yesterday with thorns upon the way Can pierce its hours or make one moment sad.