An Ideal

SEBA MARSH PIERIE

What is life, and what purpose adds joy to living,
Save to be loving and pure and forgiving?
Just learning life's lesson—to love and obey—
And proving our knowledge of God, day by day;
Pressing on without faltering toward the ideal,
With faith in our vision of that which is real!

It is lifting some heartbreaking burden of fear
By a handclasp, a right thought, a smile, or a tear,
And the heart throb of pity, which makes men akin.
It is having enough of the Christ-light within
To illumine our path with its radiant glow,
And reveal God's idea where seems friend or foe.
It is pausing to bind up the hurt of a child,
And to heal the deep wounds of a life sin-defiled;
Discerning, in mercy, man's measure of good
As the earnest of fullness with Truth understood;
It is rising above the world's tumult and strife,
Standing upright and steadfast for Truth and for Life;
Facing enemies calmly, courageously dumb:
Life is—marvel of marvels—the world overcome.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

An Ideal

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access