Ascension Day

When Christ went up to Heaven the Apostles stayed
   Gazing at Heaven with souls and wills on fire,
Their hearts on flight along the track He made,
      Winged by desire.


Their silence spake: “Lord, why not follow Thee?
   Home is not home without Thy Blessed Face,
Life is not life. Remember, Lord, and see,
      Look back, embrace.


“Earth is one desert waste of banishment,
   Life is one long-drawn anguish of decay.
Where Thou wert wont to go we also went:
      Why not today?”


Nevertheless a cloud cut off their gaze:
   They tarry to build up Jerusalem,
Watching for Him, while thro’ the appointed days
      He watches them.


They do His Will, and doing it rejoice,
   Patiently glad to spend and be spent:
Still He speaks to them, still they hear His Voice
      And are content.


For as a cloud received Him from their sight,
   So with a cloud will He return ere long:
Therefore they stand on guard by day, by night,
      Strenuous and strong.


They do, they dare, they beyond seven times seven
   Forgive, they cry God’s mighty word aloud:
Yet sometimes haply lift tired eyes to Heaven—
      “Is that His cloud?”


-- Christina Rossetti

home in heaven

This little guy was keeping me company this morning.

Along with these pictures, I wanted to share this poem I found today in a book called Hearts of Fire by The Voice of the Martyrs.

Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! But Jesus’ love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus’ arm to lean on
Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
Pray to trust our Father’s Will.

There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand
Do it now while life remaineth
You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting
Oh, the joy to see you come!

-- Edgar Guest