A poets thoughts from yesteryear......
When wilt thou save the people?
Oh,God of mercy, when?
Not kings and lords.... but nations!
Not thrones and crowns.... but men!
Ebenezer Elliott English Poet 1781/1849
..... and verses in a similar vein written today.
I dream of a world that's free of insanity:
No hatred or fear, no screaming in pain;
No armies colliding, but peace and serenity.
I dream of a world of freedom sustained.
I dream of a world that's free of man's vanity:
No arrogant sneers, no scheming for gain;
No heartless deriding, but caring fraternity.
I dream of a world of reason attained.
I dream of a world that's full of humanity:
Of kindness sincere and love unconstrained;
No abyss dividing, but living in unity.
I dream of a world where tolerance reigns.
copyright
Kath Riley (Cheltenham)
..... has man really progress in the 200 years between these verses?
Reflections
This page in our
website was originally destined to be called Personal Testimonies and whilst it
is certainly appreciated that a persons words
from the heart can be both inspirational and uplifting it was felt that
perhaps this placed rather too much restriction on the pages content and a
heading which encompassed not only individual testimonies but could also be
extended to include thoughts from a wider aspect was sought… it was felt that the title Reflections met
this requirement.
How do you see?
How do you see?
Do you see with your eyes?
Do you notice the world that surrounds you?
Observe nature's grandeur in sea, earth and sky,
Look well at the beauty around you.
How do you see?
Do you see with your mind?
Can you picture a dream that dumbfounds you?
Then make that dream known to the whole of mankind,
The outcome may truly astound you.
How do you see?
Do you see with your heart?
Can you sense all the love that surrounds you?
Then feel all the kindness that others impart,
And pass it to people around you.
However you see,
With your heart, mind or eye,
Let your vision form part of the rainbow
Whose colours one day will become unified,
And truth will emerge from the shadow.
White truth will come out from the shadow.
Authors note. The last verse of the poem was inspired by the work of John Andrew Story, which the Revd. Don Phillips used in a service (late 2006). One of the ideas he wrote about - a 'rainbow of faith' - resonated with me, and has stayed with me ever since.
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