Message from Jim Wolfe, High School Teacher

In preparing for this devotional I happened to remember when I was a teen the times sitting out on the large porch of my aunts country home when we visited in the summer. Most of the time there would be several of us kids out playing and the adults solving all the problems of the world on that porch. Sometimes when I was alone, just sitting there by myself, I could hear and see the glory of God’s nature in the fields and woods around their house. As I think of today’s times, it seems that everyone is so "busy" these days. Long gone are the days when we sat on the porch during the setting sun, listening to the sounds of nature, and solving all the problems of the world.

Some people might thing we are better off now than we were then. I don't know. We seem to have lost the ability to appreciate nature, which is sometimes tough to do in the city.

The following is a poem I came across on the internet that sort of follows this theme. Appreciate what God has given us while we can! It is titled “The Music of Nature”

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.

The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done,
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.

The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die

'Cause you never had time
To call and say "Hi"?

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music my friends
Before the song is over.

Message from Jan Wolfe, Art Teacher

Psalm 15 ESV
15 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your vent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the Lord;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

As we enter another round of elections, I am always amazed at the politicians, who want to run for a high office, and then have their past ‘sins’ come to light. In the light, the would be politicians, try to explain their ‘sins’ away, try to cover them up, blame someone else, and get even deeper into the lies of their lives. Eventually these would be politicians end up fading away.
As I read Psalm 15, it occurred to me that if politicians wanted to live a life that would be transparent under scrutiny, just following this Psalm would make it easy. We need to pray for those running for offices at all levels. Pray that those who are eligible to live on God’s “Holy Hill” are the ones elected to live on the political ‘hill’.

Message from Carol Stines, International Director

I have been so blessed by many hymns and Christian choruses. In fact, I have even chosen some songs for my funeral already and, on my tombstone I want this section from a song …
Why should I gain from His Reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.

We often sing songs and do not really think about what we are saying or promising or confessing or believing. I urge us to really think about the meaning and internalize it. Sometimes at home I’ll sing a song many times. It often takes about the 3rd time through before I really start to comprehend all that I’m singing and see how to make it personal.

How about the song:
The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows
The more that I love him, more love He bestows
Each day is like Heaven, my heart overflows
The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

How about:
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sins upon that cross

Recently this has meant a lot:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know who holds the future
And, life is worth the living just because He lives.

I’ll end with this one:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His mercy and grace

Message from Dan Stauffer, JH/SH Math Teacher

"What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?" 1 Corinthian 4:7

I like verses like this that set me straight on who I am. How prone I can be to boasting in the "great" things I have accomplished! This attitude can make me frustrated or impatient with others, because the focus is on me, and naturally I'm not too sure about you and the way you do things. When I boast in myself, I say through my words and actions that I'm relying on my own strength rather than on who Jesus is and what he has done for me. I need to remind myself that the one whom I always should be exalting is God.

There is, indeed, a good kind of boasting. It is boasting in God. In fact, we can never exaggerate the greatness of God, because he is infinitely greater than all we could ever imagine or describe. When we boast in the Lord, we say through our words and actions that we're relying on Jesus and on what he has done for us rather than on our own strength. We take the focus off ourselves, and we see every good thing in our lives as a gift from him. We realize we have done nothing to earn or deserve the favor of God, but he has chosen to love us (in spite of who we are). Jesus loves us, this we know. What a wonderful God we serve!

Message from Jamie Ross, Kindergarten Teacher

The Kitchen Sink

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Thessalonians 5:18
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Four and a half years ago, my husband and I were enjoying an Easter sunrise service at the Grand Canyon. When we arrived home, later that afternoon, we walked into a house flood. Three and a half inches of standing water flooded the entire 800 square feet of our home. A pipe had broken. Our house was built in the early fifties. Our home owners insurance would pay for another flood, storage for 3 months and new flooring throughout our home. They wouldn’t pay for bringing our home up to code compliance with new wiring & plumbing. My husband touched one of the pipes in the exposed wall and it fell apart in his hands. So, as you can probably relate, we were on the pay as you go plan.

First we piped and wired up to code compliance. Then we purchased beautiful flooring from Habitat for Humanity & Construction Lots. Two years later, we had a lovely completed bathroom. Our kitchen had a lovely floor, a card table, oven and refrigerator. Our dishes were stored in crates on the floor. We washed our dishes in the bathroom sink and for really big jobs, we used the bathtub.

The kitchen had always been a place of comfort, counseling and fellowship. I asked God; many times to instantaneously provide us with kitchen cabinets and a sink. Nothing happened. My favorite holiday: Thanksgiving would roll around year after year & I would rinse the family turkey in the bathtub.

I was having a pity party & no one came. I realized that I have so much to be thankful for. There are people who walk many miles to get water that isn’t even sanitary.

Christmas 2011 rolled around & I have a beautiful kitchen. My dishes are off of the floor and stored inside beautiful cabinets. I have a lovely, old fashioned washtub sink. I can rinse the family turkey in it. It’s not only big enough for that, I can give my 5 month old grand son, Ryan a bath in it. I could even give my almost 4 year old grand daughter, Hailey a bath in it, although I know that she would not be okay with that.

I even have a dishwasher. I’ve never in my entire life had a dishwasher. I stand amazed in my beautiful kitchen, watching this dishwasher doing my work for me.

What a blessing!!!!!!!!!!! God is so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every thing in His time, for whatever reason. I’ve learned patience, trust & thankfulness!

Message from Michele Reyman, Cafeteria Manager

Growing believers

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it,but GOD made it grow.
1 Corinthians 3:6

God gives each of us gifts and talents. Some of us are seed planters, making an initial contact with a person, perhaps giving them their first contact with a Christian. Another person is the one who waters. This person has a longer contact with the unbeliever, gently watering the seed that was planted, waiting for the water to settle, then watering again. Each of us must do our job and we must work as a team for a seed to be planted. However, it is not any of our responsibility to make the seed grow- only God can do that. If we each do our jobs, He will do the rest.

( One minute Devotions For Women by Carolyn Larsen )

Message from Janet Preston, Bookkeeper

God’s Plan, Not Ours

Everybody was wrong about the Ark of the Covenant (an item in the tabernacle that represented the throne of God). After losing a battle to the Philistines, Israel sent messengers to Shiloh to ask that the ark be hauled to Ebenezer, the site of their army camp.

When the ark arrived, the Israelites celebrated so loudly the enemy heard them all the way over in Aphek. The ark’s arrival caused the Philistines to fear and the Israelites to have courage.

They were both wrong. The Israelites took the ark into battle and were again clobbered by the Philistines, who captured the ark. Another mistake. The Philistines got sick and their false gods were destroyed.
We can understand the Philistines’ error—they were idol-worshipers. But the Israelites should have known better. They failed to consult God about using the ark. While they knew that the ark was earlier carried in battle (Josh. 6), they didn’t consider that God’s plan, not the ark’s involvement, allowed Israel to defeat Jericho.

No matter our resources, we will fail unless we use them according to God’s plan. Let’s study the Word, pray for God’s direction, and trust His leading (Ps. 91:2) before we step out in any venture of faith.

From Our Daily Bread 2/2/12

Message from Jennifer Pellish, High School Teacher

Taken from TODAY IN THE WORD

Colossians 1:15-17 reads, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend penned the popular modern hymn, “In Christ Alone.” In its second verse, this hymn reflects on the wonder of the Incarnation: “In Christ alone / Who took on flesh / Fullness of God in helpless babe! / This gift of love and righteousness / Scorned by the ones He came to save. / Till on that cross as Jesus died / The wrath of God was satisfied / For ev’ry sin on Him was laid / Here in the death of Christ I live.”

Paul, too, exalted the full deity and humanity of Christ. Colossians 1:15–20 is often considered the climax of this epistle because of its doctrinal and poetic qualities. Paul might be quoting an existing hymn, but it’s also possible he composed the hymn or poem himself. In any case, he asserted that Christ “is the image of the invisible God” (v. 15). This means that although God is a spirit and cannot be seen, Christ became human and made it literally possible to see God. This is also a way of saying that Christ is fully God. Hebrews 1:3 similarly affirms, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”

Christ is also “the firstborn over all creation.” “Firstborn” is a positional metaphor—that is, it doesn’t mean the Son of God began His life at a certain point in time (He’s eternal!), but rather indicates His position as ruler over the created world. This interpretation is confirmed and expanded in the next verse, where we learn that “in him all things were created” (v. 16). Christ’s relation to creation is not only one of authority, but also one of authorship. He spoke it into being and continually sustains it (cf. John 1:14). His preeminence covers the entire created realm, including supernatural beings, a truth that will be applied specifically in chapter two against the false teachings spread in Colossae (2:18–19). In summary, Paul wrote: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (v. 17). Or as one commentator put it, “Things make sense only when Christ is kept at the center.”

Today’s passage takes us back to Genesis 1 with fresh eyes. Since Christ is the creator and ruler over all creation, then He is the One to whom we as stewards of creation must give account (Gen. 1:28–30). He made it all, and He will make it all new (Rev. 21:5). It can be invigorating and convicting to realize that He is the One holding everything together, that He stands at the beginning and end of history as its Alpha and Omega, and that in Him we actually see God.

Message from Kristin Ornoski, Development Office

Be Still

“Be still,” I hear Him softly say.
“Be still, lay all aside.”
He who made the universe stoops down,
and gathers up my cares.

“Be still,” He chides again.
His work begins within my weary soul.
“Be patient. In quiet stay.
Listen to me.”

Though pressed on every side,
I clear my heart and mind.
In timid voice and heart,
I lift to Him my praise.

How quiet, His presence.
How healing, His words.
In hushed awe, I listen.
I savor each one.

My will, He bends.
My heart, He sweeps clean.
My strength, He renews.
My soul, He fills to overflowing.

He teaches through His word.
I heed what He tells me.
I stand and give Him praise.
Together we go forth to serve.

Anita Corrine Donihue

Message from Judy Nunez, Administrative Assistant

When recently thinking about God’s provision for us as individuals and as a school the following devotion from Our Daily Bread brought a reminder of how we can always trust Him…

What we see of God’s provisions teaches us to trust Him for what we cannot see of His purposes.

Surprised By God
Ruth 2:17-23

If Naomi had dreamed about returning to her former home prosperous and successful, entering Bethlehem would have been a nightmare. While living in a foreign land, she had lost her husband and two sons and returned with only her daughter-in-law Ruth and a heart full of sorrow. “Do not call me Naomi {pleasant}; call me Mara {bitter},” she told her former neighbors, “for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20).
But this wasn’t the end of the story. When the discouraged Naomi saw God’s hand in Ruth’s life, she said, “The Lord…has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!”(2:20). What appeared to be a dead-end had become a doorway for these two women who had lost so much.

The Old Testament book of Ruth is a wonderful story. The brief narrative is infused with an amazing sweetness and grace as “the Lord” is mentioned time after time.
Through Naomi and Ruth, we are reminded that God works in surprising ways to make His love known and to accomplish His purposes –even during difficult times.
God’s surprises continue so we can take heart. He has not stopped showing His kindness to you and me. ---David McCasland

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best –
Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest. ---Berg

Message from Karla Mungillo, Third Grade Teacher

The Eagle

The eagle has the longest life-span among birds. It can live up to 70 years but to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision.

In its 40's its long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food, its long sharp beak becomes bent. Its old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to its chest and make it difficult to fly. Then, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which lasts 150 days. The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its nest. There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out. After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its talons. When its new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old aged feathers. And after five months, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for 30 more years!

Why is change needed? Many times, in order to survive we have to start a change process. we sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits, and other past traditions. Only freed from past burdens, can we take advantage of the present. When it rains, most birds head for shelter; the eagle is the only bird that, in order to avoid the rain, starts flying above the clouds………No wonder God wants us to spread our wings and soar with eagles!

Isaiah 43:18 - Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wastelands.

Message from Margarita Llanes, Spanish Teacher

May the words of Tom McGrath encourage your hearts today as it did mine.

“Obey your thirst”
I was reading the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. It dawned on me that as Jesus asked the woman for something to drink, the story was all about the woman’s thirst. Through the travails of five husbands she had obviously been thirsting for something more than she had found. Jesus told her of a better way to quench her thirst, a way that was eternally satisfying.
I take great comfort in seeing that Jesus is more interested in my thirst that in my sins. Life can encourage me to ignore my thirst- to keep on pushing harder at the many duties involved in being a parent, spouse, worker, neighbor, parishioner, and so forth. Ignoring my thirst is what often leads me to errant ways. I get resentful and angry, confused and empty. Meanwhile, Jesus sits at the well inviting me to pay attention to both my physical needs and my deeper longing for God. He is always ready to give me a long, cool drink of living water.

When the poor and needy seek water, and
There is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them, I the God of Israel
Will not forsake them. Isaiah 41:17

Message from Lois Leader, High School Teacher

We often encounter statistics about the percentage of children raised in Christian homes who fall away from the faith in adulthood. Preparing for this Blog, I did an Internet search on the topic and found a consensus that the number is around 85%. That is disturbing, to say the least! On closer examination, however, I found that these statistics were based on reports of individuals in their late teens to early 20s. I was unable to find any data on the percentage of children raised in Christian homes who return to the faith in later adulthood. I have a hunch that percentage will be reassuringly high.

The adolescent years are a time of significant brain development, especially in the frontal lobe areas responsible for self-control, judgment, emotions, and organization. These areas can remain in turmoil through the early 20s. I am not trying to make a case that teenagers should be excused for their poor decision-making, but to say that we who deal with them on a daily basis should persevere in planting the seeds of spiritual growth.

If we read the well-known verse “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6, NIV) carefully, we note the phrase when he is old. We can view our teenagers through the prism of Philippians 1:6 “being confident that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Message from Monique Lara, Preschool Teacher

Last week I was getting my bible time ready for the week when I came across the story about “a tiny mustard seed”, so I knew my kids would enjoy hearing and learning about it.

Jesus said to his people “Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13 31-32)
It also goes on to explain that Gods kingdom can start small, and his love may only be in one person’s heart, but when his love is shared Gods kingdom grows and grows. Then more people wanted to follow God.

How amazing that the story represents us today, as educators, teachers, and most of all Gods people. We can start off teaching the word of the Lord about how righteous his love can be in their lives, and out of nowhere they do not want to disappoint him or make him sad, they want to keep him smiling. From a tiny child understanding what the story represents it blows me away. So with that keep teaching about his love and sooner then you know it there’s many more for God to love. I love my job!

Message from Jim Koan, Superintendent

Matthew 21:21-22
New International Version (NIV)
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
(From E.M. Bounds “On Prayer”)

In this passage we have faith and prayer, their possibilities, and powers joined. A fig tree had been blasted to the roots by the word of the Lord Jesus. The power and quickness of the result surprised the disciples. Jesus says to them that it need be no surprise to them for such a difficult work to be done. “If ye have faith” its possibilities to affect will not be confined to the little fig tree, but the gigantic, rock-ribbed, rock-founded mountains can be uprooted and moved into the sea. Prayer is leverage of this great power of faith.

Friends, I think God is calling us to ‘curse fig trees’ and ‘move mountains’. We each have our own fig trees in our lives, and both individually and corporately we have some mountains that need to be moved. I urge you this day to get on to the business God called you to, that is, to “say unto this mountain ‘Be thou removed’” because God intends to and is able to answer that prayer and move mountains.

Christ’s progression was to provide for the disciples a small example of His divine ability first (the tree) and lead them to the mountain moving faith He intended them to embrace.

He has those same intents for us, so let’s get on to the work of moving mountains right here at PC.

Message from Darren Johnson, Development Director

"Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor." Proverbs 18:12

You can never be too small for God to use, but you can be too big. The way up is down. As the Scriptures say, "God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble." James 4:6

Peter had learned quite a lesson on humility. His words are wise: "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you." 1 Peter 5:6

God will use humble-hearted men and women. "Fear of the LORD teaches a person to be wise; humility precedes honor." Proverbs 15:33

Message from Gretchen Janes, Development Office

I thought I was creative, until I met my husband. Creativity comes so easily for him. When I scrapbook…let me clarify…when I used to scrapbook…it would take me a good amount of time to get something on the page. I just don't "see" readily what possibilities could lie on a blank piece of paper. It takes me awhile to get those creative juices flowing.

In my state of the aging process, I am finally learning to put a different spin on circumstances that arise in my path. What a difference that can make!

The devotional below is not my own words and is a bit lengthy but is worthy of reading if you find yourself stuck in a rut.

When God Hurts Your Feelings

Asking why is perfectly normal. Asking why isn’t
unspiritual. However, if asking this question pushes
us farther from God rather than drawing us closer
to Him, it is the wrong question. Too often, we tend
to question God:

• Why did this happen?
• Why didn’t You stop this, God?
• Why weren’t my prayers answered?
• Why am I alone?
• Why did this happen today of all days?!

In most situations, nothing positive can come
from whatever answer there might be to a why
question. Even if God gave us His reason why,
we would judge Him. And His reasons, from our
limited perspective, would always fall short.
That’s because our flat human perceptions
simply can’t process God’s multidimensional,
eternal reason.

Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’”
declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thought than your thoughts.’”

If asking the why question doesn’t offer hope, what will?
The what question. In other words: Now that this is my
reality, what am I supposed to do with it? So, when God
hurts your feelings, don’t ask why … ask what? For example,
ask God the following questions:

• What do You want me to do with what has happened?
• What can I learn from this?
• What part of this is for my protection?
• What other opportunities could God be providing?
• What maturity could God be building into me?

For more information, read Chapters 12 – 13 in
Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa
TerKeurst. Visit: www.LysaTerKeurst.com.

Message from Dave Huss, High School Teacher

ARE YOU ADOPTED?

Jesus said, ‘Except you…..become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ Matt. 18:3 . Paul adds ‘…ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry ‘Abba’ Father.’ Rom. 8:15.

When our oldest of then 5 adopted children, Danny, was 6 yrs old, we lived in rural North Dakota with three other houses in our mile square section. Our neighbor to the east had one 4 yr old boy who happened to be adopted also. An eighth of a mile to the west on the gravel road was a family with 3 small children, one of whom was also adopted.

One Sunday afternoon, we had invited one of Danny’s Sunday school classmates to spend the day with us. As they were playing downstairs in the basement ( it was winter), I overheard the following conversation:

Classmate to Danny: ‘Do you know that you’re adopted?’

Danny: ‘Yes, I know. Are you adopted?’

Classmate: ‘No.’

Danny: ‘Why not?’

As I reflect on this little conversation, it seems to me to be a microcosm of the great commission the LORD gave us prior to ascending to heaven. The good news is adoption into the family of God is available. Should we not in child-like obedience to Him be continually asking ‘Are you adopted?’ and ‘Why not?’ There’s plenty of room in the family- the old chorus goes. May the Spirit give us the grace help someone, perhaps even in our own classroom, to enter the ‘Family of God’.

Message from Gena Horn, Operations/Technology

To Soar As Eagles

THey say that eagles in flight take no concern for obstacles below. How wonderful it would be to gorget all eartly contraints and challenges and soar high above--carried effortlessly by air currents and refrehing breezes.

There are mornings when you will wake up tired. You will feel how truly eartbound yoiu are and come to the concludsion that your fravity-defying goals are too lofty to hope for.

Take heart troday that GOd never grows tired or weary. He promises to renvew your strength when you wait upon him. And like the powerful, majestic eagle, he will lift you high above the ostacles of earty--and you will soar.

"They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 NIV

Excerpt from Moments of Peace for the Morning

Message from Jay Hendricks, High School Teacher

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. (Isaiah 40:1)

My grandmother’s favorite devotional was Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman. She read it cover to cover many times, and I’m sure she knew parts of it from memory. The entry for January 11 begins with this verse from Isaiah and goes on to say,

“Store up comfort. This was the prophet's mission. The world is full of comfortless hearts, and ere thou art sufficient for this lofty ministry, thou must be trained. And thy training is costly in the extreme; for, to render it perfect, thou too must pass through the same afflictions as are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood. Thus thy own life becomes the hospital ward where thou art taught the Divine art of comfort.”

We experience difficulties so that we may better understand the difficulties others face. God comforts us so that we in turn may comfort others. Our problems are not pointless, which is important for me to remember as I sit here with my pinched nerve wondering, “why me?”

The devotional ends with this quote and a poem…

“God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.”

They tell me I must bruise
The rose's leaf,
Ere I can keep and use
Its fragrance brief.

They tell me I must break
The skylark's heart,
Ere her cage song will make
The silence start.

They tell me love must bleed,
And friendship weep,
Ere in my deepest need
I touch that deep.

Must it be always so
With precious things?
Must they be bruised and go
With beaten wings?

Ah, yes! by crushing days,
By caging nights, by scar
Of thorn and stony ways,
These blessings are!