Today is 1 January of a new year and, soon, the following poem will start making its way around social media. It's commonly known as "The Gate of the Year". I myself have shared it on Facebook in the past.
And I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year:
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."
And he replied:
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way." So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
They are beautiful words, and were made famous by King George VI, who recited them in his 1939 Christmas day speech at the beginning of WWII. Facing an uncertain future, with the horror of WWI in their not-so-distant memories, our British Commonwealth ancestors found great comfort in this poem.
It was actually the late Queen Mother, then-Princess Elizabeth who handed these words to her husband before that speech. The Gate of the Year was also quoted at her funeral in 2002.
But where did this poem come from?
It's actually the introduction to a much longer poem entitled "God Knows" written by Minnie Louise Haskins in 1908.
Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957)
Minnie Haskins was born in England and spent her younger years working in Madras (now Chennai), India, at a women's mission. Here she published a book of poetry that included "God Knows". In 1915, ill health forced her home, and after working as a labour supervisor at a factory for several years, she went on to study sociology and become a tutor. She became involved in promoting employee welfare, and established a watchdog involved in industry relations that is still in existence today.
Minnie Haskins did not hear King George VI quote the excerpt from her poem in 1939, and it wasn't until the following day, when she heard a summary of the speech, that she recognised the words and was identified as the author.
Throughout her life, Minnie Haskins wrote three books of poetry, two novels and a publication on industrial welfare. She was remembered by her colleagues as being a woman of extraordinary character, and having a great love for, and interest in, people.
And, as we stand at the gate of 2016, Minnie Haskin's poem still rings true. It speaks to hearts now as it did 77 years ago, as we look out into the night.
God Knows
And I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year:
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."
And he replied:
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way." So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.
God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.
Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life's stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God's thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.
- Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957)
Claire Debrois grew up in Feilding, NZ, and holds a communications degree in public relations from Massey University. She lives with her husband in Wellington and works in account management for a web design company. She enjoys keeping fit and active, and is a field engineer in the Army Reserves.
Claire Debrois' previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/claire-debrois.html