And heavy as ceremony the gold
That rings their anointed brows.
But for Him,
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
Only a crown of bitter thorns,
In mockery wrought by scoffing men.
Harsh thorns, that tear His hair and pierce His flesh;
Yet not so sharp, as sin's thorn in his heart,
Or man's heart-blindness to His saving love.
The blood in streams pours down His tender face.
Behold, the man: the thorn crowned King of Grace.
In green or blue beneath the changing sun.
Abundant life, like cataract or fall,
The wonder of it overwhelming all.
And we, like travelers upon the main,
Far from a shore we shall not see again,
And traveling to one we do not know,
With hope, as star, to guide the way to go.
But safe amid the storms or life are we
Empillowed on the bosom of the sea,
For winds may shriek and demons yell with glee,
Yet terrors pass us by and we are free.
And so we see, though skies be dark above,
That silver threads of joy and gold for love,
Are woven in the pattern of our life
Among the darker strands of woe and strife.
Peace lies within and beauty at your feet;
The kiss of life: there is no kiss more sweet.
Joy, bright as moonshine in the dark of night,
And love, like sun, embracing with its light.
who holds each star in place,
beyond words, beyond worlds, all praise is yours.
For all creation's wondrous fragile web
we offer you our thanks.
Gentle Lord and King
and lamb of sacrifice,
great is your mercy, great your power to save.
We sinners fall in homage at you feet;
all praise be to your name.
Dearest beloved
Flame of Eternal joy,
Spreading, enkindling, wide upon the earth,
Enfolding all within your burning love.
Our hearts disolve in awe.
O mothering womb,
O endless sea of peace,..........
I drown and sink within your deep embrace
and words slip broken off my stammering tongue.
................................
