January 14, 2008

  • Wholly Given

    photo by my son Carson on the coast of California

    Give Yourself Wholly
    Rafael Arevalo Martinez

    Fly kites with your children,
    cultivate your philosophies;
    give women your tenderness
    and men your energy.

    And at every moment, valiant, sincere,
    at every moment of all your days,
    give yourself wholly!

    Say: “I shape always
    with equal care
    my clay or my gold.”
    And at midday when the sun burns brightest,
    like a good workman–like a good workman!
    And at evenfall
    play with your children, feel yourself lightened;

    and at night’s coming
    sleep wholly.

    Give yourself wholly
    until you fall motionless
    in the final moment;
    and when death comes,
    give yourself wholly!

    ~ from Like A River Glorious

    They who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true

    from the Lutheran Book of Prayer

    Lord, make me mindful
    of the temptations of sinful care,
    sluggish selfishness,
    and impure desire,
    which beset me on every side and from within.


Comments (4)

  • I’m familiar with this tune http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/i/likriver.htm
    but plan to look up Martinez’s.

    Carson’s photo is excellent.  That’s a challenge from a lighting standpoint.  So, what type of degree is he working for and what class is he having trouble scheduling, if I might ask :)

  • I have to say that I DO “sleep wholly”!!! 

  • “Like a river glorious” is that photo, that poem — thank you for sharing. I had not read this poet before, but I fondly remember singing “Like a River Glorious” at Bible study many, many years ago     Blessings, Laurie

  • This was the first hymn I learned to sing after becoming a Christian a “thousand” years ago. I wholly and whole heartedly loved this! Thanks. blessings and love, m in sc

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