William Blake and the Chaplain Corps // March 22, 2006
I was reading this great book that St. Mark UMC from ATL sent to us here at the Chaplain's office. Its a complilation of prayers. I confess that I am not usually into reading other folks prayers, but this is quite different. Its a collection of classical writers and the expressions of divinity that are in thier various writings. It contains poetry, prose and some gut-wrenching, broken-hearted cries out to God.
This one particualr poem got me. It should be the heart-cry of every chaplain. If this is not you, no matter how "HOOAH" you are - you have no buisiness being in this Corps.
"On Another's Sorrow" By William Blake
Can I see another's woe,
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief,
And not seek for kind relief?
Can I see a falling tear,
And not feel my sorrow's share?
Can a father see his child
Weep, nor be with sorrow filled?
Can a mother sit and hear
An infant groan, an infant fear?
No, no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!
And can He who smiles on all
Hear the wren with sorrows small,
Hear the small bird's grief and care,
Hear the woes that infants bear --
And not sit beside the next,
Pouring pity in their breast,
And not sit the cradle near,
Weeping tear on infant's tear?
And not sit both night and day,
Wiping all our tears away?
Oh no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!
He doth give his joy to all:
He becomes an infant small,
He becomes a man of woe,
He doth feel the sorrow too.
Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,
And thy Maker is not by:
Think not thou canst weep a tear,
And thy Maker is not year.
Oh He gives to us his joy,
That our grief He may destroy:
Till our grief is fled an gone
He doth sit by us and moan.
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Chaplain Jon Fisher
I came across your Blog as I was looking through some military sites. My nephew is in the Airforce.
What a moving poem. God Bless you and all you do for others.
Hello from Fredericksburg, VA.
My name is Vanessa Guillette, I am Lindsay Guillette's mother, Mark's (girlfriend) at Liberty University.
He gave me your name at Christmas and I e-mailed but I think you may have been on leave, etc.
I just wanted to say hello, and to let you know you and all the soldiers deployed so far away from home are prayed for daily.
My daughter served with the ARMY during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM '03-'04.
I am very involved with AnySoldier.com, etc. I have quite a few soldiers I write on a regular basis, etc.
I am a mother of 4 and I am raising my granddaughter who is now 4 years old. I do not think my daughter who suffers from PTSD will ever regain custody of her daughter.
I have no idea how many other families out there are dealing with these situations but I know we are not the only ones.
Take care, stay safe.
God bless you for your sacrifice so that we may be free.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Guillette
a friend in the 'burg
You are completely barmy.
I'm so sorry, I didn't realise what site this was. I am an animals rights protestor and one of the links led me to this. I'm ever so sorry and wish you the best of luck in your future career as working in the army. I am a little baffled at what site this is, I'm terribly embarrassed.
Many apologies,
Ms. Susan Olive