Poem February 17, 1940 Issue

"Be not afraid"

MABEL CONE BUSHNELL

A mighty evil, world-wide in its scope,
Fast lifts its hydra heads!
The patient Nazarene, courageous, purposeful,
Who spake as never man had spoken,
Admonished us to have no fear,
For he envisioned what would be our need.

Let us remember he it was who said that wars
An warlike rumors would assail.
And he it was who showed us our protection;
Who brought to men a love before unknown,
Yet saw and for our sakes foretold
The heavy hand of hate.

Amidst the clash of steel we hear the song: "Be not afraid."
The man God made is safe.
This we must know, and never lose our courage;
The boastful sting of evil is not power,
No matter how it hurls its javelins of woe.

For God is good. Mere might is never right,
And we may always know
The very shaft of hate is powerless to carry death;
And quiet, calm, we, far beyond its range,
Thank ever-present good.

God's love is ever found, though hate is rife;
This, calmly, Jesus proved.
He walked secure where men who fearful, hating, shrank away,
And we hear yet his poignant words,
Serene, amid the turmoil of the mob, "Be not afraid"!

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