Poems (Kimball)/Jesus, my Refuge

by Harriet McEwen Kimball

JESUS, MY REFUGE.

JESUS, my Refuge, to the secret places
Where Thou dost hide I flee,
To learn Thy blessed Truth, from all the mazes
 Of human thought set free.

Without denial and without refraining
 I must receive Thy word;
Not what Thou meanest after man's explaining,
 But what Thou sayest, Lord.

Shut from the strife of tongues that yield confusion
 Quick grows the inward ear
Thy sweet assurance, stripped of all delusion,
 In humble faith to hear.

In mysteries beyond the dim perceiving
 Of Reason's clouded eyes,
Thou dost reveal Thyself to souls believing,
 Too loving for disguise.

And oh, how loving, dearest Lord, how tender
 Beyond all love Thou
When to Thy feet we cling in full surrender,
 With sorrow-broken heart!

Absolving, healing, strengthening, uniting,
 Through sacramental grace,
And to communion closer yet inviting,
 Thou dost unveil Thy face.

For faith alone low-kneeling in contrition
 The load of sin grows light;
To faith alone Thou dost vouchsafe that vision,
 And faith is almost sight.