I’ve been working on a post* about my complicated post-election feelings and how they relate to vocation and war and capitalism, but it’s not taken shape yet. In the meantime, here’s a complicated poem by G. K. Chesterton about vocation and war and capitalism. Also, here’s a link to another GKC poem and a prayer I put up last Veterans’ Day.
(*edit 11/14/16: I’ve written the complicated post now.)
O God of earth and altar,
bow down and hear our cry,
our earthly rulers falter,
our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us,
the swords of scorn divide,
take not thy thunder from us,
but take away our pride.
From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honor, and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
Tie in a living tether
the prince and priest and thrall,
bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation
aflame with faith, and free,
lift up a living nation,
a single sword to thee.
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