Believers: Assured, Called and Prayerful

Caged Skylark?

Caged Skylark?

As a dare-gale skylark scanted in a dull cage Man's mounting spirit in his bone-house, mean house, dwells - That bird beyond the remembering his free fells, This in drudgery, day-labouring-out life's age....   Not that the sweet-fowl, song-fowl, needs no rest  -...

My Signal Box

My Signal Box

The signal box sometimes feels like one of those invitation tests: go to the wilds, endure the emptiness of yourself and return reformed. Confront that which is most you: stray to the dark realm of your bruised heart and let the light in, let the grand voice of...

Grow Younger

Grow Younger

My heart leaps up when I behold     A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began;  So is it now I am a man;  So be it when I shall grow old,     Or let me die! The Child is father of the Man; And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety....

Icy Inscape

Icy Inscape

The times are nightfall, look, their light grows less; The times are winter, watch, a world undone; They waste, they wither worse; they as they run Or bring more or more blazon man's distress, And I not help....   Hope holds to Christ the mind's own mirror out To...

You Yourself In Me

You Yourself In Me

Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon your holy will. In every hour of the day, reveal your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of...

In the Night

In the Night

'Honest Doubt'? You say, but with no touch of scorn,          Sweet-hearted, you, whose light-blue eyes          Are tender over drowning flies, You tell me, doubt is Devil-born. I know not: one indeed I knew          In many a subtle question versed,          Who...

Morning Preen

Early every morning the eagle preens its feathers for more than an hour. Sitting on the side of its nest, the eagle passes each feather through its mouth, something like steam cleaning while depositing a liquid that makes its feathers water repellent. This is...

Scaffolding

Scaffolding

Masons, when they start upon a building, Are careful to test out the scaffolding;   Make sure that the planks won’t slip at busy joints,   Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.   And yet all this comes down when the job’s done Showing off walls of...

Glimpses of Truth

Glimpses of Truth

Open my eyes that I may see Glimpses of Truth Thou hast for me; Place in my hand the wonderful key That shall unlock and set me free. Silently now I wait for Thee, Ready my God, Thy will to see, Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.   Clara H. Scott...

Tell me your Story

Tell me your Story

Don't throw your arms around me in that way: I know what you tell me is the truth - yes I suppose I loved you in my youth as boys do love their mothers, so they say, but all that's gone from me this many a day: I am a merciless cactus an uncouth wild goat a jagged old...

Success

Success

I’m Whatever is foreseen in joy Must be lived out from day to day. Vision held open in the dark By our ten thousand days of work. Harvest will fill the barn; for that The hand must ache, the face must sweat.   And yet no leaf or grain is filled By work of ours; the...

No Turning Back

No Turning Back

I have decided to follow Jesus. Though I wander, I still will follow ; The world behind me, The Cross before me. Though none go with me, Still will I follow. Will you decide now To follow Jesus? No turning back; No turning back.   Sundar Singh (Sadhu),...