From Streams in the Desert:If thou, impatient, dost let slip thy cross,Thou wilt not find it in this world again;Nor in another: here and here aloneIs given thee to suffer for God’s sake.In other worlds we may more perfectlyLove Him and serve Him, praise Him,Grow nearer and nearer to Him with delight.But then we shall not any moreBe called to suffer, which is our appointment here.Canst thou not suffer, then, one hour or two?If He should call thee from thy cross today,Saying: “It is finished-that hard cross of thineFrom which thou prayest for deliverance,”Thinkest thou not some passion of regretWould overcome thee? Thou would’st say,“So soon? Let me go back and suffer yet awhileMore patiently. I have not yet praised God.”Whensoe’er it comes, that summons that we look for,It will seem soon, too soon. Let us take heed in timeThat God may now be glorified in us.–Ugo Bassi’s Sermon in a Hospital.
_________________SI Moderator - Brandy Gordon