Poems and Prayers, Part 8

God Omnipresent

IN THE name of God, the giver,
Ask not. Where is our God ? but look around.
In all things that exist a God is found :
He moves the universe, He breathes through space.
Though only veiled, man may behold His face.
He rolls the thunder, rules in storm or sun.
In all, through all, His emanations run.
From the Empyrean, where His glory shines.
To earth's remotest ends, His love divines
The spirit's slightest wish, expressed by prayer.
Wherever Faith shall seek Him He is there.
The throbbing ocean murmurs : God is here.
The flowers lift up their heads and feel Him near.
All things obey the working of His will,
O ! man, and wilt thou only doubt Him still
- Whitworth, Laura A

January 25, 2010

I have waited on the Lord,
In the stillness of my mind.
In the music of a hymn,
In a conversation with a friend.

It is in the loveliness of a flower,
And the color of the light of day
Lost in a prayer from the prayer book,
I have waited on the Lord.

My friend, it is the pleasure of life,
The knowledge in simplicity of knowing
One another, and even the times that come looming
To the psyche of trials and fears in a tunnel
Where confinement of spirit and mind

Make the soul weep and wonder
That there is comfort in knowing you
Lord. Speak to my heart.
-Peter Menkin

Sayings (Part II)

There is wisdom in many places
from many times, many spaces.
All the world is just one world,
no less important than another.

Ethics is wisdom that should be tested, shared and taught;
never construed for abuse, never violently fought.
Ethics should be honestly discussed,
in good intent towards all,
to help each other prevent hard falls.

Negative assumptions should be challenged at heart,
by long-term positive perspectives, to redo their start.
Perspective is introspective and retrospective,
an inspective directive.
Positivity is harmony with peace at its core:
merciful and compassionate, honest, humble, and more.
All mistakes come from short-term thinking,
such as selfishness and harm.
To be supportive is to be appreciative, hopeful,
empathic, and warm.

To do unto others as you would have others do unto you,
is to treat everyone well,
so that there can be utopia for all.
Forgiveness is essential, and so is diversity,
together we learn, like a Universal University.

Each home is important, as important as every other,
each person as well, like an ambassador, like an embassy.
We all can learn for the sake of family to overcome
anger, lust, and greed to our best capacity.
- Justin Coslor

A Psalm of Life

What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist

TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream ! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real ! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal ;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way ;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Be a hero in the strife !

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !
Let the dead Past bury its dead !
Act,— act in the living Present !
Heart within, and God o'erhead !

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time ;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

Cleansing Fires

Let thy gold be cast in the furnace,
Thy red gold, precious and bright,
Do not fear the hungry fire,
With its caverns of burning light:
And thy gold shall return more precious,
Free from every spot and stain;
For gold must be tried by fire,
As a heart must be tried by pain!

In the cruel fire of Sorrow
Cast thy heart, do not faint or wail;
Let thy hand be firm and steady,
Do not let thy spirit quail:
But wait till the trial is over,
And take thy heart again;
For as gold is tried by fire,
So a heart must be tried by pain!

I shall know by the gleam and glitter
Of the golden chain you wear,
By your heart's calm strength in loving,
Of the fire they have had to bear.
Beat on, true heart, for ever;
Shine bright, strong golden chain;
And bless the cleansing fire,
And the furnace of living pain!
- Adelaide Anne Procter

Be Kind to the Loved Ones At Home

Be kind to thy father; for when thou wert
young.
Who loved thee so fondly as he?
He caught the first accents that fell from
thy tongue,
And joined in thy innocent glee.
Be kind to thy father; for now he is old,
His locks intermingled with gray;
His footsteps are feeble, once fearless and
bold;
Thy father is passing away.

Be kind to thy mother; for, lo! on her brow
May traces of sorrow be seen;
Oh, well mayst thou cherish and comfort
her now.
For loving and kind hath she been.
Remember thy mother: for thee shall she
pray
As long as God giveth her breath;
With accents of kindness then cheer her
lone way,
E'en to the dark valley of death.

Be kind to thy brother: his heart will have
dearth
If the smiles of thy joy be withdrawn;
The flowers of feeling will fade at their
birth
If the dew of affection be gone.
Be kind to thy brother wherever you are:
The love of a brother shall be
An ornament purer and richer by far
Than pearls from the depths of the sea.

Be kind to thy sister: not many may know
The depth of the sisterly love:
The wealth of the ocean lies fathoms below
The surface that sparkles above.
Be kind to thy father, once fearless and
bold.
Be kind to thy mother so near,
Be kind to thy brother nor show thy heart
cold,
Be kind to thy sister so dear.
- Anonymous

Where is Home?

Home is where affection binds
Gentle hearts in union,
Where the voices all are kind,
Holding sweet communion.
Home is where the hearts can rest
Safe from darkening sorrow,
Where the friends we love the best
Brighten every sorrow.
Home is where the friends that love
To our hearts are given,
Where the blessings from above
Makes the home a heaven.
Yes, 'tis home where smiles of cheer
Wreath the brows that greet us,
And the one of all most dear
Ever comes to meet us.
- Anonymous