The Lord’s Day- by G. Victor Wilbee
Oh, day of rest, oh, day of calm,
To bring mankind a healing balm,
Give to this day the rest of seven,
And usher in the breath of heaven.
The birds sing sweeter, soft subdued
With peace and quiet all endued:
And trees become cathedrals rare,
A calm tranquility is there.
The sun a little brighter glows
As mankind pauses to repose:
And man and beast alike are blest
Through this, Thy sacred Day of Rest.
In Wisdom’s plan may we rejoice
And hear the great Creator’s voice,
“This is My day”, all else withstood,
“Oh mark it well, ’tis for thy good.”
We dare not desecrate Thy day,
And throw our peace of mind away:
In reverence wonder at Thy love;
Serene assurance from above.
My Grandpapa wrote this before I was born….he died before I was even a twinkle in my mother’s eye and yet there is a bond I feel with him. I always have. I don’t know if I was ever told that I was like him or that we had anything in common at all but something draws me to him. Perhaps it is because I never knew him and therefore I can create him in my imagination to be whoever I want him to be. But I know that beyond being a successful entrepreneur, father and grandfather, he was an artist.
Because here is a little secret about me…..ssshhhh, don’t tell anyone….I am an artist. Under my rough, rash analytical exterior, a little girl is continually creating and seeking beauty and excellence. I am moved by art and beauty, by injustice, empathy and feel deeper than many. I am not as scary as people think I am.
But rereading my Grandpapa’s collection of writing I can’t help think about what others will think of me when I am gone. Will people say goodbye with ill assumptions and unnecessarily hurt feelings or will they think I loved? inspired? pursued truth, beauty and authenticity? It’s pretty hard to change peoples’ opinion of you once you aren’t around and even while I am I can’t go around explaining myself all the time. I try to live authentically and yet am often misunderstood. This will be something forever under review and scrutiny.
Sunday night Borscht and Faspa however will always remain good, true and reliable.
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