The Gate of the Year

The following poem was made famous when it was included in his New Year's Day address by King George VI in 1939, while the clouds of war gathered over England and Europe.  It was also read at the funeral service of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in 2002.
"Put your hand in the hand of God" seems like good advice to begin the year 2012 as well.


At the Gate of the Year


I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year
'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'
And he replied,


'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God
Trod gladly into the night
He led me towards the hills
And the breaking of day in the lone east.


So heart be still!
What need our human life to know
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife of things
Both high and low,
God hideth his intention."

God knows.  His will
Is best.  The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.

by Minnie Louise Harkins 1875-1957