Faith is an adventure; it is the courage of the soul to face the unknown. But that courage springs from the hope and confidence of the soul that its adventure will succeed.
Henry Van DykeThese are the things I prize And hold of dearest worth: Light of the sapphire skies, Peace of the silent hills, Shelter of the forests, comfort of the grass, Music of birds, murmur of little rills, Shadows of cloud that swiftly pass, And, after showers, The smell of flowers And of the good brown earth,- And best of all, along the way, friendship and mirth.
Henry Van DykeBe grateful for the tiny details of your life and make room for unexpected and beautiful blessings.
Henry Van DykeO' who will walk with me along lifes merry way? A comrade blithe and full of glee, who dares to laugh out loud and free.
Henry Van DykeA river is the most human and companionable of all inanimate things. It has a life, a character, a voice of its own; and it is as full of good fellowship as a sugar maple is of sap. It can talk in various tones, loud or low, and of many subjects grave and gay.... For real company and friendship there is nothing, outside of the animal kingdom, that is comparable to a river.
Henry Van DykeAll Thy works with joy surround Thee, God of glory, Lord of Love; Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flowery meadow, flashing sea, Chanting bird and flowing fountain, Call us to rejoice in Thee.
Henry Van DykeSome succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.
Henry Van DykeLet me but find it in my heart to say, When vagrant wishes beckon me astray, "This is my work; my blessing, not my doom; Of all who live, I am the one by whom This work can best be done in the right way."
Henry Van DykeIt is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.
Henry Van DykeOh, London is a man's town, there's power in the air; And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair; And it's sweet to dream in Venice, and it's great to study Rome; But when it comes to living, there is no place like home.
Henry Van DykeEven if we should find another Eden, we would not be fit to enjoy it perfectly nor stay in it forever.
Henry Van DykeLong ago Apollo called to Aristæus, youngest of the shepherds, Saying, "I will make you keeper of my bees." Golden were the hives, and golden was the honey; golden, too, the music, Where the honey-makers hummed among the trees.
Henry Van DykeEvery country-or at least every country that is fit for habitation-has its own rivers; and every river has its own quality; and it is the part of wisdom to know and love as many as you can, seeing each in the fairest possible light, and receiving from each the best that it has to give.
Henry Van DykeThere is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.
Henry Van DykeTime is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.
Henry Van DykeSo let the way wind up the hill or down, O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy; Still seeking what I sought when but a boy, New friendship, high adventure, and a crown. My heart will keep the courage of the quest, And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.
Henry Van DykeLove is not getting, but giving; It is goodness, and honor, and peace and pure living.
Henry Van DykeBut this I know. Those who seek Him will do well to look among the poor and the lowly, the sorrowful and the oppressed.
Henry Van DykeThere is no conflict between the Old and the New; the conflict is between the False and the True.
Henry Van DykeHeaven often seems distant and unknown, but if He who made the road... is our guide, we need not fear to lose the way.
Henry Van DykeI shall grow old, but never lose life's zest, because the road's last turn will be the best.
Henry Van DykeThe best rose-bush, after all, is not that which has the fewest thorns, but that which bears the finest roses.
Henry Van DykeThe Bible teaches that God owns the world. He distributes to every man according to His own good pleasure, conformably to general laws.
Henry Van DykeEre thou sleepest, gently lay Every troubled thought away; Put off worry and distress As thou puttest off thy dress; Drop thy burden and thy care In the quiet arms of prayer. Lord thou knowest how I live, All I'VE DONE AMISS FORGIVE; ALL OF GOOD I'VE TRIED TO DO STRENGTHEN, bless and carry through; All I love in safety keep While in Thee I fall asleep.
Henry Van DykeThere are two good rules which ought to be written on every heart - never to believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; never to tell even that unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary, and that God is listening.
Henry Van DykeModest egotism is the salt of conversation; you do not want too much of it, but if it is altogether omitted, everything tastes flat.
Henry Van DykeNo matter what theory of the origin of government you adopt, if you follow it out to its legitimate conclusions it will bring you face to face with the moral law.
Henry Van DykeUse what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.
Henry Van DykeWhat you possess in the world will be found at the day of your death to belong to someone else. But what you are will be yours forever.
Henry Van DykeNatural beauty and wonder are priceless heirlooms which God has bestowed upon our nation. How shall we escape the contempt of the coming generation if we suffer this irreplaceable heritage to be wasted?
Henry Van Dykebe glαd of life, becαuse it gives you the chαnce to love αnd to work αnd to plαy αnd to look up αt the stαrs; to be sαtisfied with your posessions, to despise nothing in the world except fαlsehood αnd meαnness αnd to feαr nothing except cowαrdice; to be governed by your αdmirαtions rαther thαn by your disgusts, to covet nothing thαt is your neighbour's except his kindness of heαrt αnd gentleness of mαnners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends and to spend αs much time αs you cαn with body αnd with spirit.
Henry Van Dyke