On Religion

And an old priest said, Speak to usof Religion.

And he said:

Have I spoken this day of aught else?

Is not religion all deeds and allreflection,

And that which is neither deed norreflection, but a wonder and a surpriseever springing in the soul, even whilethe hands hew the stone or tend theloom?

Who can separate his faith fromhis actions, or his belief from hisoccupations?

Who can spread his hours before him,saying, “This for God and this formyself; This for my soul, and this otherfor my body?”

All your hours are wings that beatthrough space from self to self.

He who wears his morality but as his bestgarment were better naked.

The wind and the sun will tear no holesin his skin.

And he who defines his conduct by ethicsimprisons his song-bird in a cage.

The freest song comes not through barsand wires.

And he to whom worshipping is a window,to open but also to shut, has not yetvisited the house of his soul whosewindows are from dawn to dawn.

Your daily life is your temple and yourreligion.

Whenever you enter into it take with youyour all.

Take the plough and the forge and themallet and the lute,

The things you have fashioned innecessity or for delight.

For in revery you cannot rise above yourachievements nor fall lower than yourfailures.

And take with you all men:

For in adoration you cannot fly higher thantheir hopes nor humble yourself lowerthan their despair.

And if you would know God be nottherefore a solver of riddles.

Rather look about you and you shall seeHim playing with your children.

And look into space; you shall see Himwalking in the cloud, outstretching Hisarms in the lightning and descending inrain.

You shall see Him smiling in flowers,then rising and waving His hands intrees.