Eugene

 Eugene

December 23, 1945

"They presented unto him gifts;

gold and frankincense and myrrh."

Matt. 2:11

He had no gold,

That right men prize,

To fill the coffers of the Sanctuary,

Or gild the pinnacle of a temple

Dedicated to his God.

He had no boasting

Of self-righteous service for his Lord,

Nor word of oratory,

Nor melody of song

To which men listen

As they pass along.

But God, one morn,

In mysterious wisdom,

Went forth into His garden,

And plucked the opening petals

Of bud and blossom of rose;

Pressing them down with seeming rudeness,

But with tender hand;

Into an empty vessel,

Given in love, for His use that day.

And many said, "Alas; what a pity"

But, in the shadows,

There went forth, upon the evening air,

From the very Gates ajar.

And men paused by the wayside,

In their earthly endeavor and pride,

And, looking up, said;

That a Saint had just passed by.

Andrew J. Paul