Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-22
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: CHE fAaCDfQ1 RdERD.
r BY DR. JAMES B. CLAYTON.

Had called the fisher friends to noDer toll,
Are sought again: old tasks, resumed IN dusk
OF day and hope, engage the Sewn, led on
By Simon to the shore of Galee,
Whose fish they sought
With burdend memory
All that remained Of CHERISHED hope-they stand
Upon the shore; there Christ had met them each
And called follow Him. there crowds had surge
To hear, and share the boons He had tor men;
There, in Storm He calmly slept though waves
Were driv'n by fearful winds, while here and there
In yonder sky hiding star took flight
Across the Wrathful cloud to camer space
Had slept then woke with powr upon His lips
To speak the calming word, Peace! be ye still!
Again. before the morning watch, when oars
Were helpless in rough they feared the storm
But feard Him more who walked upon the sea,
Until He said, IT'S be not afraid!
Each spot reminds of Christ
In glooming thought,
They mend old nets, scarce seen eyes are dmmd
Bv spray of Caee's 1ovd memories.
He's dead The cluchng hand OF grief grips heart
And throat the sun, like hope, has set; and night
Falls quick, enshroudng craft and nets. sinks deep
In heart and sea. Through all the night the nets,
Oft stretchd i'll other days by teemlng lite
Drawn from the giving sea, now feel no weight
OF prize drawn from its depths: the same tried nets
Though flung with former skill, empty now,
Yet scarce empty the hearts bereft
OF Christ. It's hopeless toll-one failure more
Added to fruitless quest OF hope
The dawn
Breaks chill on Galiee, and i'll its light
Eyes turn from shore; once before
In fear they see the lov'd yet dreaded form
Revealed: though the tomb, like foaming seas,
Were helpless meath Ills feet. lie STANDS alone:
The Christ and gripping terror trenbles words
WHO can it be, what can 1t mean
Across
The sea which grudgd them gain for nght.long toll,
They hear the nee mistaken voice: 'Chlldren!
Have We any neat IT'S He, as always
Considerate of their need not His;
AS always, He speaks the guiding word:
The net the right side of the ship,
And ye shall find Strange though it be, It's true:
His word has powr the draugh is great and strains
Their strength and net, where skill had been IN vain.
cd in form md voice in
All for another's good and wondrous poWr
To help the Christ is known: ut is the Lord!
AS others drag the ship and nets to land
Rash Simon needs more; but dash1ng bold
Into the sea, he comes to Christ
That shore,
Where marvels had been rife, yet more;
The Christ, late from the tomb, calls hungry
To food and warmth which naiscarrd hands had made:
Come, dine Was ever stranger meal prepaid
Bv stranger hands? Yet not falt ring lip
Dare ask him, WHO art Thou? lis none but He!
AS Host HI serves, and taking food He gave
To EACH as i'll the upper room.
AS others speak in tones subdued, the Christ
And Simon Denlal-perJury-
Base fear-the loving look, assert their sway
In conscience Of the faithless friend, whom Christ
First called-1s oldest friend 10 meet Him now
AS love and shame contend for mastery
In faithess friend OF faithful friend the Christ
Is Simon's fear yet Simons hope. Let words
OF scorn rebuke and wrath fall hot; they're His.
Yet not one word OF WHISPERED blame,
Nor even angers look darts fire; instead
IT'S only Simon lovs thou me-:
Of old,
In cldloods restless mood reckless play,
At morning. noon and night when light brought life,
Or shapes that haunt the dusk gave fright; oft then
Fond moher-lips had WHISPERED. cried or smiled,
In those dear words: Child, lOvst thou me-: Now He
Repeats the words of soothing motherhood
To little child Simon lowest thou me-:
Three tmes-to conscience. heart and will, the words
Are said and as little child. the
Whose heart is strr'd by mingng shame and grief
With starting tears looks to the face of Christ,
And sobs: Yea Lord, Thou knowest that [ love;
Thou knowest all things, knowest best of all,
That love Thee
What loneliness of Christ
In form, in tone i'll grace in way through all
The faithlessness of men! Strange in all things
His ways not ours-yet knowing u.s. need
OF love outlasting all unworthiness-
OF love that meets groand word of sin,
With silence OF forgivng charity
He waits us: bringing dawn and warmth and food
For men child in the night of falling hope,
Yet needing most of all forgivng love:
He asks of us. Lowest thou me-? Enough!
Less would not do, could not be enough,
For love like His reveals its loneliness
In winning love from SHINING
Thou say'st
Yea Lord love Thee best: what sign Civ st thou?
Thou canst better yea give Christ than this:
That bv Ga1ilee, where toll vain.
Through night whose shades hide ry look dior
And spectred memory awakes dread tear;
When tossd 'twiNt and sky, the mind nor heart
No gain has found when need of flesh soul
Is great THAT THOU SHALT SERVE AS CHRIST
SERVES THEE,
Shall serve because needs.
Thy hands. like His,