Fall

O Summer, do you leave us and so soon?
And take from us your pleasant, sunny days
That linger into twilight, after noon
Has filled earth’s treasure with its warming rays?

The brilliant skies of autumn utter cries
Of triumph’s hope, in Earth’s futility,
To which it yearly clearly testifies,
As blazing leaves fall from each conquered tree.

No sunny prospects now before us lie,
As summer fades, and Winters’ trumpet blows
Through frosty windowsill and wild goose cry,
And dark skies bode the coming of the snows.

What light shall cheer the winter-darkened panes
Of windows once illu’med by evening rays
Of summer sun, or dewed by spring’s sweet rains -
Shall gladness shrink as shorter grow the days?

Oh no, my soul has treasures deep and true
That spreads their mighty gladness through the year
And cheer my poor heart all the winter through
And trump decays and triumph over fear.

My soul has Jesus, maker of the sun
Whose love is warmer than the summer’s rays
Who’s loved by him need never feel alone
Nor desolate the soul that sings His praise.

Let love cheer all the windows of our home
And of our souls when cold and darkness fall
Around, outside - inside they need not come.
Our hearts have Christ, our light, our joy, our all.

And when the spring returns with flowers bright
And life awakes, and birds sing high and clear
We’ll see foretold the setting all things right
That’s echoed in the turning of the year.

- AFC, 9-22-2009

In humble vale...

In humble vale, ‘tween mountains high

I saw a shepherd passing by

A flock of sheep behind him went

With steady feet and still intent

I saw one lamb who came away

From them and to the shepherd say

“My Shepherd it is pleasant here

But shall we always linger here?

I see above us mountains high

And wild and green…sometimes I sigh

To go up to the dazzling heights

Which beckon me with new delights.

The Shepherd looked with mercy sweet

Upon His eager little sheep

And answering with tender voice

Told it to wait upon His choice:

“Be content my sheep to go

Where the quiet waters flow

Through the flat and grassy plain

Fed by common sun and rain.

Every place where you are led

I will see that you are fed.

Is it not enough for you,

That I choose what’s best for you?

Someday to those mountains steep

I will lead you, little sheep

And the grassy plains behind

May come fondly to your mind

While above the dazzling heights

Beckon you with new delights

You will find a humbled will

Taught to trust me and be still

Will sustain you on the steep

And rugged pathways, little sheep.

Wait on me, your Shepherd true

I promise to do good to you.”

This eager little lamb is me

This wise and patient Shepherd He

Who once did give Himself to save

Me, wandr’ing toward a rocky grave

He has become my faithful Guide

Who calls me to walk by His side.

And I will follow patiently,

For He will do what’s best for me.

Tied-up Joys

I am always being tempted to tie my joys to changing circumstances instead of to my unchanging God.
In happy times I am tempted to wrap my heart around the present joys - nervously, knowing that they may be snatched away at any time.
In hard times, I often find my joys nearly drowned, as if they had been tied to a rock, only to have the rock thrown into a dark and turbulent ocean.
What then am I to do? I must continually be aiming, in every situation, with the help of God, to wrap up all my joys in Christ, and in His love and His will - to tie them fast to Him and keep them there, come what may. He does not change; He lives forever, no longer able to be touched by the power of death. Joys tied here cannot be moved, and here I find the secret of contentment