Pondered thoughts and words from our Patriarch...

THE PATHWAY

Starting to fill this new vessel.

It is clean, pure, undefiled,

lacking vanity or vile imports.

Like fresh clay from the mold, it is

pliable yet.

Where shall it reside to set its path,

and its character?

Apart from the clamor of the crowd

offering to point the way.

Retreat to the solitude , ponder quietly

upon how and why things came to be.

Ask for power in thought, discernment,

perception of things untainted --

and to link purpose to its goal.

Become staunch in the search for what

can be proved and repeated in truth.

Harden the palm of the hand to turn as a foe

towards the wrongs that surely will come.

Stretch forth that calloused palm to lift

and to aid a burdened sojourner.

Bear the loads wrought by time --

endurance has little to offer but pain, but

perserverance causes gladness that

strengthens the soul in hope.

Hope brings an assurance that lasts

until the clay once again becomes dust,

and the soul sent home

James A. Frazier

October 27, 2009

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LESSONS

Suffering is not the discipline that smelts out

the dross; it is the touchstone that tests the

quality of the Gold.

A severe temptation assails one to do a

dishonest thing. He resists and conquers.

He did not know until put to the test how

much of the Gold of honesty he possessed.

Tribulation is common to all men. To some

it must be endured, but to others it is

persevered with gladness yielding patience

and rendering character. Wince it comes

matters not with justice or no - the test is for

truth and the value of hope.

James Frazier's adaptations from the Bible