The Crown of Glory Inherited
By Phebe Ciemny (USA)
This poem was written for an international poetry contest held in commemoration of True Parents’ birthday in 2016. It is a sequel to True Father’s poem, “Crown of Glory.”
This is a sequel to the poem that taught us what a Child of God must do—
put faith in the sinew of gold in the heart of God that beats with intractable love.
There are no shortcuts to the blessed life; one must know God. One must sacrifice.
And find God’s grace flowering in that tender space of faith.
An encore to the rhyme that said stand unswayed in the will of God and burrow
into your path, dig into the roots that made you, take a leap, and pledge to drop
obedience, like an anchor there, secure in the river of your heart’s devotion.
Vibrant and unmoved, hear this as a celebration of clearing the intrinsic path of righteousness,
as we remedy where God’s heart, bearing that threaded gold, bearing love, is bruised in humankind’s
careless grasp. To the poem that instructed us in God’s healing, we rejoice.
This is a sequel to the poem that confirmed in us a value
we never imagined for ourselves, giving us permission to be blessed.
It said God wants to trust you, and when he can,
He looks into your eyes and sees their steadfastness
likened to light, blinking lids like wings fielding the heavens closer as they soar
to the height that grace allows. My mortal, human heart broods to repay him.
I am submerged in the work of His, observe: the tireless sun,
the fingertips of a stream that revive its fish,
when solitude quells in the bright black of the moon,
there is hunger and depth that can never be won.
No one can do greater work than Him.
Therefore, this is an infinitely reverent thank you to True Parents,
who gave me, and so many others, life. Spiritual and physical life.
To the man and woman who gave us the secret to God’s heart,
now we can know something in this world that is perfect and true.
This is a thank you to their words, the truth of what it took
throughout history for me to be born, the attitude, the heart, the mindset,
that we embrace as our own.
I wear the Crown of Glory,
beautiful and true,
We wear the Crown of Glory because of you.
Crown of Glory
When I doubt people, I feel pain.
When I judge people, it is unbearable.
When I hate people, there is no value to my existence.
Yet if I believe, I am deceived.
If I love, I am betrayed.
Suffering and grieving tonight, my head in my hands.
Am I wrong?
Yes, I am wrong.
Even though we are deceived, still believe;
Though we are betrayed, still forgive.
Love completely, even those who hate you.
Wipe your tears away and welcome with a smile
Those who know nothing but deceit,
And those who betray without regret.
O, Master, the pain of loving.
Look at my hands.
Place your hand on my chest.
My heart is bursting, such agony.
But when I love those who acted against me,
I brought victory.
If you have done the same things,
I will give you the Crown of Glory.
—Reverend Sun Myung Moon