Over the place where hearts are sore and lone;
Over the place where priests and creeds of late
Have stammered news of God and man at one,
And seen men doubt and sleep, and wake to hate.
O windows, made for light to enter in!
The Light is there, beyond the darkened sky.
To reach, impinge, and pass your barrier thin,
To lift our captive, earth-bound souls on high!
Come to the windows! There adoring kneel!
Beyond your aching hearts the Heart Divine!
Heart seeking heart, beyond where systems wheel,
Seeking, yea, finding! Lo, the starry sign!
O Hand that leads yon Star that shall not fail!
O Eye that watches through each guiding ray!
O Home, beyond our habitations frail!
O Church, complete in Heaven's eternal day!
Be ever for us all 'above the place,'
Bringing all comfort, joy, assurance, peace!
Healing the desperate sorrow of the race,
From all earth's discords gaining glad release!
O Lord of Light and Life, grant us to know,
Through windows crystal-clear of faith and love,
Beyond our winter night of grief and woe,
The steadfast Star still shines our world above!
VII.
Over the House-Tops
Above the house-tops of a big, modern city, with its skyscrapers and its factory chimneys, the vision passes across the clouds of the Wise Men on their way to Bethlehem.
Over the House-tops