Trench: one short hour

Wednesday, December 27, 2017
    Feast of John, Apostle & Evangelist
Meditation:
Praise be to the LORD,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
    and I will give thanks to him in song.
The LORD is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.
    —Psalm 28:6-9 (NIV)
Quotation:
Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in thy presence will prevail to make—
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take,
What parchëd grounds refresh, as with a shower!
We kneel, and all around us seems to lower;
We rise, and all, the distant and the near,
Stands forth in sunny outline, brave and clear;
We kneel how weak, we rise how full of power!
Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others—that we are not always strong;
That we are ever overborne with care;
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us in prayer,
And joy, and strength, and courage, are with thee?
    ... Richard Chenevix Trench (1807-1886), Poems, London: Macmillan, 1874, p. 139 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 28:6-9; 31:21-24; 107:19-22; 116:1-2; Isa. 35; John 4:13-14
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are the source from which I drink and thirst no more. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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