Prayerful Poem for Pastors

The early 17th Century George Herbert, an English churchman, wrote a host of poems that take the reader on a meditative and theological journey through the Church and it’s worship. This series of poems is titled “The Temple” and can be found in the Penguin Classics book, “George Herbert: The Complete Poems.”

Below is one of my favorite poems. This particular one is worth the Pastor’s time to read and contemplate. Likewise, I would recommend it for the pastor’s prayer time. And pastor, if you don’t spend time praying, start doing so today.

The Windows

Lord, how can man preach thy eternal word?
He is a brittle crazy glass:
Yet in thy temple thou dost him afford
This glorious transcendent place,
To be a window of thy grace.

But when thou dost anneal in glass thy story,
Making thy life to shine within
The holy preacher’s; then the light and glory
More rev’rend grows, and more doth win:
Which else shows waterish, bleak, and thin.

Doctrine and life, colours and light, in one
When they combine and mingle, bring
A strong regard and awe: but speech alone
Doth vanish like a flaring thing,
And in the ear, not conscience ring.

“crazy” = cracked.
“anneal” = burn in colors upon glass

Mike