Poem January 1, 1944 Issue

The Revealer

CONSTANCE EMMA BRITTON

I prayed for peace to stay the claims of war,
And in my heart found deep resentment lie
All but forgotten, yet prepared to spring
At some chance word! Thus would my eager cry
For peace mock Love's own Golden Rule and law.

I prayed that men might cease from lies, and found
Within my heart false claims still held their sway.
Old errors in new guise assailed my thought
Where I had failed as porter. Who should pray
But I for truth, whom falsehood would have bound?

Thus did the Christ in me reveal my sin,
And change my prayer to one that met my need
For purer love and truth to cleanse my heart,
And courage to deny each lie, nor heed
The error that would drown the voice within.

O Love revealed that holds us in Thy peace,
O Christ within, whose truth is like a fire
That cleanses man from self-deception's thrall,
Thy kingdom come! Let this be our desire
Till war and falsehood shall forever cease,
And all creation know that God is All.