Free, Oh! free me
From fading spree...
What has utmost
Influence on me?
Deep well of shame
And disgrace are mine
Expanse infinite of praise
And grandeur are Thine...
Am I sprouting, flowering,
Fructifying inside?
Taking shelter in the wounds
Of Christ Crucified?

Search, Oh! search
For the Illuminant warm
Alien to changing purpose,
Portentous harm
Today's sobbing defeat -
A miraculous retreat -
From hazardous, fearsome fate
Worse than loss of life
Training needful for
The final triumph
Of earthly strife.
Do trials and insidious harm,
Craft me wise and free?
Free, Oh free me
From vanishing spree!

Keep, Oh! keep
What's passing in slavery
Not myself be its slave,
Bear duties bravely
Foreign to swamp frivolous,
Carnal for the sensualist
Craves continually pleasure
In death-dealing measure...
Am I, in truth, facing me?
Shutting the door to Thee?
And, can Thy grace be wanting
To one seeking Thee?

Dorothy Kardas, Psy.D. Th.D.

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