[net.religion] Man asks:

walker@noscvax.UUCP (Janet M. Walker) (03/22/85)

   Why dost Thou hide Thyself from me, O God?
   Where'er throughout the ages man hath trod
   His mind and soul hath sought Thee.  All in vain!
   He can but hope and trust: but I would know.

   I search through far-flung depths of stellar space;
   I grope adown the labyrinths of mind;
   I peer into each microscopic place 
   And find all else: but Thee I cannot find.

walker@noscvax.UUCP (Janet M. Walker) (03/25/85)

  Man Speaks:

   Why dost Thou hide Thyself from me,  O God?
   Where'er throughtout the ages man hath trod
   His mind and soul hath sought Thee.  All in vain!
   He can but hope and trust:  but I would know.

   I search through far-flung depths of stellar space;
   I grope adown the labyrinths of mind;
   I peer into each microscopic place
   And find all else:  but Thee I cannot find.


  God Speaks

   It is not I who hide, 'tis thou art blind.
   Thine insight is so dimmed thou canst not see
   That My Creation's Book revealeth Me;
   That every atom is an open door 
   Inviting thee to enter and explore!

   What dost thou hope to see
   When thou goest seeking Me?
   A Face?  A Voice?  A word writ on the sky?
   If I should speak who art thou to reply?
   If I should write some guiding Word to men
   Could they interpret My Supremest Pen?

   For is thine eye so keen, thy mind so sure,
   That when My Spirit moves thee, and I lure
   Thy longing soul afar
   To probe the mote and star,
   Thou canst in such wise hope to limit Me
   Who doth surround what mind and eye can see?

   Canst thou thus find Me Who both far and near
   Create?  Who causeth all things to appear
   And them inspire?  Who willeth dawns to break,
   And rivers flow, and suns their orbits make?

   Such futile search shall surely be unblest.
   What then, My son, didst thou desire to prove?
   Canst thy frail mind encompass thus My love?
   O son of Love!  For thee can be no rest
   Save love for Me and calm upon My breast.

   Wert thou through all eternity to seek,
   And through immensity of space to roam,
   Thy spirit shall no foot-hold find,
   No answer to thy questing mind,
   Except to My command thou shalt bow down;
   Unless My Love thou wearest like a crown,
   And find in meeting Me thy spirit's home.

   I am not far from thee but ever near:
   Listen to thy heart's whisper:  "I am here."

   There lies but one soul-step 'twixt thee and Me:
   Take that one step into Eternity.

   That Life is now if thou that step wilt take
   And from thy temple vigorously shake
   The ragged mantle of mortality.
   For that My royal robe I offer thee,
   And bid thee share My Eternality.

                                from "The Song Celestial"
                                by Howard Colby Ives

dan@scgvaxd.UUCP (Dan Boskovich) (03/26/85)

In article <845@noscvax.UUCP> walker@noscvax.UUCP (Janet M. Walker) writes:
>
>   Why dost Thou hide Thyself from me, O God?
>   Where'er throughout the ages man hath trod
>   His mind and soul hath sought Thee.  All in vain!
>   He can but hope and trust: but I would know.
>
>   I search through far-flung depths of stellar space;
>   I grope adown the labyrinths of mind;
>   I peer into each microscopic place 
>   And find all else: but Thee I cannot find.

   God's Answer:

   Romans 3  All like sheep have gone astray, all have gone their own way.
   There is none who seeks after God, there is none righteous, no not one!

   But yet,

   John 3:16  For God so Loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son
   that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
   Life.