A Day’s Life

Rising in the morning, flooded with the light of the new day which is poured around me by the presence of the Eternal, I draw in my breath, breathing in the blessed love power, on whose life my life utterly depends.

I am happy. I rejoice in that dependence. I love to feel that my life rests upon the. bosom of the All Loving. I return that love in filial gratitude. The heart of God demands my heart and I give it.

Right relations being now established for the new day between me and the all embracing life, I ask of the surrounding spirit of love and wisdom and power, strength and insight and tenderness to meet my dear ones at the morning meal.

May some token of loving union then be given, some wise, some tender, some appreciative word be spoken, that shall make the day's duties easier and lighter to each of them.

Then as I go to my own special duties for the day, may everything I do be governed by the abiding thought of doing my work well, so well that it shall become an offering to God, and a true service to man. May I deal justly and honorably with every one I meet. May I remember how closely I am linked to all around me. Let me be one of many to help all those for whom toil is bitter, and bread is scarce, and those whom weakness and ignorance and disease keep down, and rob of the natural joy of life.

If I keep the house, may my smile and loving welcome instantly greet those who have worked outside, so that homecoming may be sweet and blessed to those who return for rest and recreation and cheer. If I am working outside my home, may I bring my very best home with me, and make the home keepers feel that the very walls of the house are sacred.

Then at last come rest and sleep, and may I say then I lay me down and take my rest, for thou, O Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

S. R. CALTHROP.

Summer Evening and Night on the Lake

Now Toil quits his hammer,

The Day that is over.

Leaves the Mountains to silence,

The Woods to the plover,

The Sky to the sunset,

The Lake to her lover!

Now falls on her waters

The stillness of even,

And mirrored in splendor

The glory of Heaven.

No pomp of the sunset

Is lost in the wave,

It gives back to Heaven

The glow Heaven gave.

No tiniest cloudlets

Of purple and gold,

But revealed in that mirror

Their beauties unfold.

Now a hush that is sacred

Falls down with the night,

Unveiling new glories

That day hid with light.

Oh I wonder of wonders!

The Heavens afar

In the dark Lake repeated

Shine there, star for star!

Arcturus and Vega,

The Bear and the Crown,

The Eagle and Dragon

To the water come down.

A star in the Heavens,

A vast orb of Flame,

A point in the Water,

The light is the same!

O Father! Thy glory

Shines down on Thy child,

May my soul be a mirror,

Like this, undefiled.

And may man rise in pureness,

Birth gaining on birth,

Till no gleam of Thy glory

Is lost on the earth!

Then no star in Thy Heaven

Shall shine all unknown;

And the heart of Thy children

Shall come to its own!

S. R. CALTHROP.

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Prepared for web page display on April 1, 2006