Stephen Mitchell Gazeley In an Austrian Church I walked into a church one day And found it full of mirrors Giving back the light.
The sight was marvellous, And many came to gaze At such a work, in a dark place.
Some did not want to stay, soon Crossed it off their list, and so moved on.
For me, I waited there, till I could see.
And then I found it was too much:
So many images, whichever way I looked, So many styles, such range of ornament Or plain severity, endless variety Of subtle difference, and every one Imperfect, marred or flawed Yet saying: Come, this is the Way.
Demanding, begging, promising Each in the name Of the true Light.
There in the murk I was hard put to it – Where I had come for light, The light of day, that shines on all – To see beyond the shades of shades, Endless reflections fading into dust Within that nightmare-mirrored hall.
Then one who came in after me Approached and looked, and so I knew myself One of their company.
Lord, we were made for light, To show your light to one another.
Light of life Enlighten us.
W.S. Beattie W.S. Beattie is a retired librarian and member for forty years of the Norwich United Reformed Church, where he was a magazine editor and sang in choirs, before moving to Stortford.