The Henson Journals

[226]

Wednesday, April 16th, 1924.

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 is prayer,

And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?

Archbishop Trench

I suppose the experience described in these lines is integral to a sincere profession of Christianity. It is certain that the assurance of Divine guidance which it expresses has often been connected with the most woefully mistaken action.

I worked at the Cambridge sermon: walked in the Park with Hugh Lyon after lunch: wrote to George Nimmins, from whom I had received yesterday a long and very interesting letter, and wasted the evening in my "family".

---