Category: Religion

He is a cross upon a hill,
Who smiled and talked and worked and played.
Inspired, entirely undismayed
He lives (within our hearts)–and will.

by Ray Romine Tuesday, October 24, 1944

It’s good, I think, when one is low,
To look into the sky;
To watch the high-piled clouds and know
That God is standing by.

Whose cup of life shall reach the brim
May know the taste of gall
Unless he walks along with Him
Who saved the first to fall.

(2nd verse added–for Cru–9-24-45)

by Ray Romine Wednesday, August 8, 1945

Once more that time is here–Thsnksgiving Day,
The blessed day the Pilgrim folk of old
Set up to thank their God in humble way;
Just grateful, they, for houses from the cold,
And food enough to keep up spirits bold!
Though little had they, found they then the time
To upward turn their eyes and prayers unfold:
What now is ours, still God’s is, every dime–
Let’s pause and thankful be to Him, the All-sublime!

“Lenore” — Finished 11-23-42

by Ray Romine Monday, November 23, 1942

He swallowed a spirit
More hardy than most;
Discovered his error,
And gave up the ghost.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, February 21, 1951

The pulsing stars of Bethlehem retired
Each in its niche, at glimpse of Star of Him,
That it might shine nor grow forever dim;
And man’s brief span has since been Chrift-inspired.

So touch my star, O Father–make it shine
To dim the glitter and the glare of sin
That fills my sky to tempt the man within,
So one more soul shall rise as Christ’s–and Thine!

by Ray Romine Saturday, November 27, 1943

Flame-encircled orb of day, eye-defying glitter–
I watched you start your daily way amid a clouded litter;
I saw you push the mists aside, and tear the clouds asunder–
But something more abstract than all this brought me up in wonder:

We know so little of you there; science leaves you still a mystery:
Ten times ten thousand gaps for us exist throughout your history.
We do not understand you, then; we cannot quite explain you–
Yet we question not the blessings there so freely on your menu.

Our lives would most abruptly end if you one day should leave us;
Of vital heat, the food we eat, your going would relieve us;
From early dawn til twilight time our lives are daily lighted,
Our troubles by your warming rays are deftly, swiftly blighted.

From frightful cold of outer space your steady pulse defends us;
The cheerful bird, and flower of June your summer vigil sends us,
‘Twould seem a little puerile with these facts that fair surround us
To let a lot of doubt and fear about your WHY confound us.

Then, why doubt God, who too looks down beyond the sun there flying,
Whom also we can’t analyze, though some are vainly trying,
Without Whose help we find us stopped before we’re fairly started;
Faith in Whom can make our path mapped and clearly charted?

To Whom for more than light and heat and food and drink we’re looking,
Whose Smile for you and your neighbor too, Hell’s grim abyss is brooking?
You, sun, are just the same to God as infant is to Mother:
0 what a shame that man can take the one and leave the Other!

by Ray Romine Monday, July 20, 1942

Considering all from Heaven I receive,
The host of blessings in my life’s design
My country–proud I am to call it mine–
Where men may think and talk as they believe;
Our cheerful home with honeysuckled eave,
Where laughter reigns in evening as we dine;
The woods in May: each fur-tipped bud a shrine;
And fields of June; and snow on Christmas eve,
I realize that many things, both sad and gay
Have slowly built, down through the years for me
A lifetime, layer new succeeding layer.
And if as time rolls on I fail to say,
“For things I have, O Father, thanks to Thee”,
I never really find my God in prayer.

by Ray Romine Sunday, May 16, 1943

God, who protects the sparrow’s flight,
Watch over me, I ask, tonight.
And in all things I say and do,
Watch over me tomorrow, too.

by Ray Romine Wednesday, March 31, 1954

“Your faith alone I envy you”,
(My doubting friend was speaking);
“You’ve found yourself a firmer rock
Than I, for years of seeking.

“I’ve gone these years from this to that,
To try and pin down one thing
To buoy me up and give me strength–
At least, you b’lieve in something!

“You seem to always find some shred
Of hope, when I’m past hoping;
A ray of light to guide and lead,
While I’m in darkness, groping.

“Let’s take this Easter story, now–
For you who can believe it,
It symbolizes what we call
Your faith, as I perceive it:

“Christ’ s suffering, end the ridicule, —
Your anguish, fears and sorrow;
The Resurrection shows you what
Your faith can bring tomorrow;

“His Cross,– the sacrifice you make;
The nails,–the pain of living;
His dying proves that all the joy
You’ll find here lies in giving.

“It must be fine to feel, like you,
That faith will cure our troubles;
That Love alone can make it seem
Our cares are only bubbles.

“Now all of this is swell for you,
But I shall go on seeking
Some other code, some creed that stands
Alone, with logic reeking.”

My friend’s sincere, but what gets me
Is, he’s so inconsistent:
If he can see this faith in me–
Is Truth from him so distant?

And he’s an advertising man:
His every institution
Includes a phrase that he should know:–
“Accept no substitution!”

–written for March (Easter) 1942
“Crusader”

by Ray Romine Sunday, March 1, 1942

“On and on–and to what purpose?
To what purpose, after all?”
Cries the life that lacks the Pilot
Who would guide it through the squall.

“Hopeless, yes, completely hopeless–“
None so hopeless or unjust
As who will refuse the Savior,
Worthy Compass he can trust.

He who steers by Try-and-Blunder
Knows a long and stormy race;
While he who looks to Faith has something
Wind and wave shall not erase.

by Ray Romine Thursday, August 2, 1945