THE SOUL SEEKING FOR PERFECTION.
One day my soul a journey went;
It traveled East, it traveled West,
It searched in vain one soul to find
That able was to bear the test
Of perfect living, perfect love;
E’en in the best it found some flaw;
Some lack of truth, some selfishness;
Not one had kept the “Perfect Law”.
Discouraged, weary, sore distressed;
It gladly turned again to home.
It thought perfection there to find,—
No farther it would have to roam.
Alas! Though once more snugly housed,
Perfection was not found therein.
Contented it could never be;
For e’en at home it found much sin,
O Soul! Though you have found much sin;
You’ve also found much that was good.
Temptations overcome by man,—
Known many ills he has withstood.
Perfection is not found on earth—
If it were so, no one would know
The joy of helping man to bear
Up under all the grief and woe
That is the heritage of life;
Bequeathed to man before his birth.
Be not discouraged then, O Soul,
Expect to find much sin on earth.