November 22

“Every moment of deepening communion with His Father has its corresponding moment of sympathy with His brother-men. . . . Everywhere the solitary completes itself in the social. Solitude shapes and colours the precious forms of character which then the furnace of society burns to solidity, and brilliance, and permanence.”

PHILLIPS BROOKS

“Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in thy presence will prevail to make,
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take.
What parchèd grounds refresh as with a shower!
We kneel, and all around us seems to lower;
We rise, and all, the distant and the near,
Stands forth in sunny outline brave and clear;
We kneel – how weak! We rise – how full of power!
Why therefore should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others – that we are not always strong,
That we are ever overborne with care,
That we should ever weak or thoughtless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer,
And joy, and strength, and courage are with Thee?”

TRENCH