MASTER PERFUMER OF SOULS

 

Master Perfumer of souls

Prayer to Christ for Perfume of Sanctity

O Christ, dear Master, may Your Grace impart
Sweet fragrance of holiness within my heart;
In Your sacred atelier, let me sit near,
And watch as You fashion the virtues most dear.

You gather roses of charity bright,
Lilies of kindness, washed in Your light;
Rare blossoms of patience, of mercy, of grace,
You blend with such love in this still, holy place.

The violet of meekness, hyssop of prayer,
Blossoms of kindness, fragrance of care;
Sweetness of courage, forgiveness of balm,
Flowers of hope and humbleness calm.

O Master Perfumer, so skilful and wise,
What beautiful fragrance beneath Your Hands lies!
You know every soul, every wound, every need,
And choose just the virtues that help each succeed.

For each life You fashion a fragrance unique,
Perfume of holiness, gentle and meek;
With love and truth, steadfast and true,
Fragrance that draws others closer to You.

Teach me to sit in Your workshop of grace,
Yield You my heart in this quietest place;
Let nothing within me resist Your design,
But make every fibre of my being Your shrine.

Outside, in the city, the streetlamps aglow,
Lights in the windows like scattered stars show;
People move onward through market and street,
With burdens to carry and strangers to meet.

They know not the workshop where grace has begun,
Nor see how Your fragrance is formed, O God's Son;
Yet out in the marketplace, day after day,
Your perfume may touch them along life's hard way.

For sanctity sounds not a trumpet's loud blast,
Nor seeks the applause of a crowd gathered fast;
It blossoms in gestures so little, so slight,
Yet changes a life with its fragrance of light.

Where mercy blooms gently, and judgements depart,
Where patience flows kindly from compassionate heart;
Where gentleness answers where harshness might fall,
And care welcomes those who feel shunned by all.

Small acts of grace, which the world may pass by,
Are as flowers that bloom where Your Love dwells on high;
Each kindness, each mercy, each word that makes whole,
Is Your holy fragrance at work in the soul.

O Jesus, dear Master, Perfumer Divine,
Make virtues like blossoms take root and entwine.
Blend patience with courage, let gentleness grow,
Teach me the beauty of love's quiet flow.

May others discern kindly goodness in me,
Your influence in the person I strive to be.
May souls be encouraged, with hope born anew,
As they glimpse, through my life, the beauty of You.

When evening descends and my day's work is done,
When the last rays of gold fade beneath setting sun,
May the fragrance remaining, wherever I trod,
Be the fragrance of Christ, drawing hearts close to God.

O Master of souls, let Your work be complete;
Make my life an offering, fragrant and sweet.
Till heaven receives me, my prayer shall remain:
Make my life, Lord Jesus, Your perfume again.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Perfumer of souls"

LOVE LOCKS OVER THE VAAL

The Parys suspension bridge dates back to 1919 and features a collection of love locks. The unique tradition captures the essence of love - couples "locking" their love in a symbolic gesture which has many couples travelling to Parys. The Parys love lock tradition invites couples to inscribe their names or initials on a padlock, which they then attach to the bridge overlooking the Vaal River. This romantic gesture signifies an everlasting bond, and some couples believe that by locking their love, they are making a promise to return to Parys to celebrate their union. 

Love Locks over the Vaal

Upon the bridge at Parys town,
Where golden rays come drifting down;
The Vaal flows clear beneath the sky,
Where leafy trees and green banks lie.

Among the stones, grey and grand,
River winds through fertile land;
Where lovers meet, and pledges start,
Each lock of love speaks from the heart

With names engraved for all to see,
Or initials joined in harmony.
Each little lock seems to softly say,
“Our love shall last through every day.”

For love is faithful, love is true,
A sacred gift God gives anew.
Love springs from God, forever fair,
A sacred treasure held with prayer.

Love, in truth, comes from above,
For God Himself is perfect Love;
Surely God must smile to see
Two hearts pledge faithful unity.

Beneath the sun they make their vow,
With shining hopes for then and now;
The river hears their pledge of two,
As souls promise to remain true.

Ancient boulders, still and strong,
Have watched the river flow along;
Through the years, beneath the sun,
They witness vows of two made one.

Near this place, the ancient Dome
Recalls a world of ages flown;
A mighty stone from distant space
Once struck the earth with awesome pace.

O'er two billion years have passed away
Since meteorite traveller came that day;
The ancient earth was struck and torn,
From its depths Vredefort Dome was born.

The cosmic blow of mighty power
Shaped the land that very hour;
Though the ages onward run,
Ancient scars remain 'neath Free State sun.

Upon those rocks we stand today,
And wonder at that long gone day;
Stones preserve the story grand,
Of force once unleashed 'pon the land.

Yet greater still, we do recall,
The Love that entered history's hall:
When Christ came down from heav'n above,
He revealed the Father's endless Love.

Though mountains weather, skies do change ,
While time reshapes the earthly range;
Rivers flow, stones grow old,
Yet God's great story still unfolds -

For Love remains when all is gone,
Still shining like the morning sun;
Love has conquered death and pain,
Through God's grace we shall rise again.

May every lock beside the Vaal,
Remind us of true love through all:
To cherish, honour, serve and care,
And keep our promises in prayer.

O Christ, the Sun of God’s own Love,
Shine on us from Thy throne above;
May every earthly love made true,
Find eternal home in You.

Life may fade, and time may go,
The river may cease earthly flow -
But love, when rooted in God’s embrace,
Shall live forever by His grace.

Photographer CN Whittle

THE POTTER'S LOVING HANDS

 

The Potter's Loving Hands

"Yet You, LORD, are our Father.
We are the clay, You are the Potter;
We are all the work of Your Hand."
- Isaiah 64:8

In morning's light so soft and fair,
God gently shapes us with His care;
Through golden dawn and skies so blue,
He forms our hearts to love what's true.

When evening falls in sacred peace,
His patient labour does not cease.
Within the silence of the night,
He moulds our souls by heaven's light.

The Potter's Hands are firm yet kind;
He knows each heart, each soul, each mind.
He sees the beauty yet to be,
The saint His loving Eyes can see.

At times He presses, smooths, and bends;
Each trial His holy purpose sends.
Though we may fear the changing way,
His Hands will never cast away.

The clay cannot the Potter guide,
Nor tell His Wisdom to abide;
It simply yields with trusting grace,
Secure within His warm embrace.

Each crack He heals with mercy's art;
He writes His gospel on the heart.
Each wound becomes a place to shine,
Transformed by Love and Grace Divine.

So let us trust His perfect Will,
Though life be loud or dark and still;
For every touch, both strong and mild,
Is shaping God's beloved child.

One day His masterpiece we'll see,
Refined for all eternity;
His image shining bright and whole,
The saintly beauty of the soul.

So, Lord, take all that I can be;
Shape every thought and part of me;
Break pride and selfishness away,
And teach my heart to trust each day.

Prayer;

"Dear Lord, make me holy according to Thy Will.
Mould me, shape me, and never cease Your work within me.
May I remain the clay in the Hands of the Divine Potter,
Until my soul reflects the beauty of Christ. Amen."

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle

THE GREATEST MIRACLE

 

The Greatest Miracle

"Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature."
- Poem inspired by the words of St Augustine

The dawn unfolds with crimson light,
As stars surrender to the night;
Each flower wakes beneath the sun -
A whispered work of God well done.

The robin's song, the ocean's tide,
The mountain standing far and wide;
The tiny seed that breaks the sod -
All speak the silent Voice of God.

The babe that smiles in mother's care,
The breath of life, the answered prayer;
The healing touch, the heart made new -
These are the wonders God can do.

No miracle denies His plan,
Nor breaks the laws He gave to man;
They simply lift the veil a while,
To show His Wisdom's hidden smile.

When storms arise and hope grows dim,
We place our weary trust in Him;
For every cross we bear today,
God walks beside us on the way.

The blind may see, the lame may stand,
The weak grow strong by God's own Hand;
Yet greater still than these we find,
The grace that heals the human mind.

A heart once hard now learns to care,
A soul returns through humble prayer;
Forgiveness blooms where hate had trod -
The sweetest miracle of God.

Each day He fills our cup anew
With mercies bright as morning dew;
In joy and sorrow, loss and gain,
God's faithful love shall still remain.

Yet all these wonders gently say,
They point beyond this earthly day;
For life on earth, though rich and fair,
Prepares us for a home more rare.

The greatest miracle by far,
Outshines the brightest morning star:
That those who walk the path of grace,
Shall one day see God's holy Face.

No tear shall fall, no night remain,
No wound shall know its sting again;
The saints shall sing with one accord,
Within the kingdom of the Lord.

There every joy shall overflow,
More than our earthly hearts can ever know;
Love's endless song shall fill the sky,
Where death itself has learned to die.

No sun shall light that blessed shore,
For Christ shall shine for evermore;
The Lamb shall be our light above,
The living flame of endless love.

So let us journey day by day,
With faithful hearts upon the way;
For every miracle we see,
Is but a glimpse of what shall be.

When all our earthly years have flown,
And God shall call us to His throne
The greatest wonder will unfold -
A home more precious far than gold.

Then in His glorious Light we'll stand,
Forever safe within His Hand;
To praise the Father, Spirit, Son -
Our everlasting life begun.

For every miracle below,
Is but a seed God bids us sow;
Its fullest bloom we then shall see
In Heaven through eternity.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Throne of God"

THE BLOW UPON HIS HOLY FACE

 

The Blow Upon His Holy Face

Before the court our Saviour stood,
The Lord of mercy, truth and good.
No angry answer did He give,
But showed us how God's saints should live.

An officer with cruel hand,
Struck Christ, Who at the trial did stand.
With quiet strength Jesus stood there,
Endured the shame with patient care

The Saviour spoke with quiet grace,
No trace of vengeance marked His Face:
"If I have spoken words untrue,
Then show the wrong that I did do.

"But if the truth My Lips have said,
Why strike My Face?" the Saviour pled.
Yet still He bore the shame and pain,
To cleanse our hearts from sin's dark stain.

How often little wounds we bear,
Of harsh rebuke or pain unfair.
Misjudged by those who cannot see,
Or burdened by adversity.

A thoughtless word, a cold disdain,
A hidden grief, a quiet pain;
These lesser crosses come our way,
To meet us in life's passing day.

Then let us bear them patiently,
With humble hearts and charity.
For every trial, great and small,
Can draw us nearer Christ, our All.

United to our suffering King,
Our tears become an offering;
For He who wore the crown of thorn,
Will raise our hearts to Heaven's morn.

O Lord, when trials fill our days,
Teach us to walk in all Your ways;
To bear each cross with faith and love,
Until we dwell with You above.

Image by CN Whittle

CANAANITE WOMAN OF FAITH

 

Canaanite woman of faith

A Canaanite came from afar,
Led onward by faith's guiding star;
She sought the Lord with earnest plea,
"Have mercy, Lord, O pity me!

"Great Son of David, hear my cry!
Do not, dear Lord, just pass me by;
My daughter suffers day and night,
Oppressed by evil's fearful might."

At first the Saviour answered not,
Yet still she trusted, faltered not!
She knelt before His gracious Face,
And sought His loving help and grace.

"My Lord," she said, "I know Your power;
Please help my child this very hour."
The Saviour drew her faith to light,
Till all could see its wondrous might.

"It is not right," the Master said,
"To take the children's daily bread,
And cast it to the dogs instead,"
Yet still in faith she bowed her head.

"Yes, Lord," she answered, meek and wise,
"Yet little dogs beneath arise;
To gather crumbs that gently fall,
From tables rich enough for all."

Then Jesus smiled with joy untold;
Her steadfast faith was strong as gold.
"O woman, great your faith has proved!
Your humble trust has deeply moved."

That very hour her child was free;
Christ triumphed o'er the enemy.
The Saviour's mighty word brought peace,
Thus all her daughter's pain did cease.

So when our trials seem too great,
Let faith, not fear, direct our fate.
For those who seek the Lord above
Will find His mercy, power and love.

Image by CN Whittle

THE WISE MEN AND THE KING

 

                                                                             Freepik

The Wise Men and the King

From eastern lands the wise men came,
To seek the Child of holy fame;
A shining star through darkest night,
Led onward by its brilliant light.

Across the hills, through desert sand,
They journeyed to the promised Land;
With faithful hearts they sought God's Son,
The long-promised and Anointed One.

They found the Child with Mary there,
In quiet peace and humble care.
They bowed before His sacred Face,
Their hearts made glad by boundless grace.

Gold and resins they gifted there,
Precious gifts offered with loving care;
No earthly throne their eyes did meet,
Yet still they worshipped at Christ's Feet.

The little Jesus raised His eyes,
With love that reached beyond the skies;
He looked on each with tender grace,
A smile of mercy lit His face.

Though but a Child, He knew each heart,
And loved them from the very start.
The Light that shone from His great grace,
Shone brightly in that humble place.

So may we too seek our holy King,
And grateful hearts before Him bring.
May we be faithful to God's Son,
Who victory over death has won.