Transformation

TRANSFORMATION I was a Bethlemite; had lived and loved as mortals do, And I had tasted, oft, wormwood and gall, of cankering hate; Had fumed and spat when enemies were passing by my gate. But lo, the Star! And wise men from the gates of morning dew! And then I gazed into the liquid eyes of Mary's Child. The Cherub of the Haloed Head looked in my face and smiled, And all my bitter hate was changed to loving sympathy, My enemies became my friends. Oh, I could not condemn! For, having caught the love divine, I loved the souls of men. I was a bigot, great and high, garbed in a robe of pride, I boasted of my power; that I could fight and conquer fear. With self-sufficiency, I bragged of having not a peer. H But, lo! I followed where He led, up Olive's Mountain wide, I listened to a pleading voice in lone Gethsemane, "My Father, if it be Thy will, remove this cup from me!" H And then my cloak of pride slipped off and fell upon the ground, And I was humble; just a child; with tender sympathy, And all who faltered by the way, henceforth were kin to me. I was a hard avenger of the souls who served me ill, I was a critic, and I sat oft in the scorner's seat, I gave for blow, a ringing blow, revenge to me was sweet, And, lo! beside a wayside cross, on far off Calv'ry's hill, I listened to the words of Him who died for me and you: "Forgive them, Father," in this hour. "They know not what they do," Thenceforth, I studied, not the deed, but motive of the heart; And those I'd deemed of mean intent, seemed kind and true and good, Revenge had flown, and left me Peace; for now I under- stood. Tridell, Utah Alice Morrill m»tn»»»nn»»»»n»»t:»»tt»»t»t»t»»»»»»»»»iii»»»»mmmm: H