Nearer to Thee
We scanned the headlines for the news
and sensed what was to come:
those children in the photograph
would not be coming home.
Small hope surrendered with a bleak
announcement on TV,
and someone played a brave old tune—
“Nearer, my God, to Thee.”
Can God be near when malice lurks
throughout the world He made;
when every generation sees
its innocents betrayed?
Each evil lessens all of us—
Who lets such evil be?
Grief fills Thy churches, grief and shame,
and brings us nearer Thee.
We search for meaning, finding none;
for hope where hope has died.
We learned this lesson long ago
when Christ was crucified:
untainted lives are beacons, bright
however dark the sea.
Take them, take them; take our hopes,
and hold them near to Thee.
(in memory of Holly and Jessica)
(Revision)
http://www.davidgwilymanthony.co.uk/
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