The Common Quest At the closing session of the SoF 2006 Conference we sang John Andrew Storey’s hymn The LargerView. In Sofia 81 the Editor asked readers to come up with two new verses for the hymn. David Paterson has responded, keeping Storey’s words for the first and last verse and inserting his own new words in the middle as verses 2 and 3.
The Larger View In their ancient isolation Races framed their moral codes, And the prophets of each nation Trod their solitary roads.
Now the distances are shrinking; Travel, and the printed page, All earth’s many lands are linking, Spreading knowledge of each sage.
We evolved to fear the stranger, Struggling to preserve our kind; Now our conflicts lead to danger For the whole of humankind.
Vast our task – the great reversal Of the fear that fosters hate Into deeds of universal Caring for our planet’s fate. ‘God is love!’ – and yet we, hating Insights different from our own, Live in fear as, unabating, Power to fight and kill has grown.
Must we then demand rejection Of all ‘wisdom from above’?
Or make thoughtful, wise selection From this search for truth and love.
Now new times demand new measures, And new ways we must explore; Let each faith bring its own treasures To enrich the common store.
Then no more will creeds divide us – Though we love our own the best – For the larger view will guide us As we join in common quest.
New verses by David Paterson for hymn by John Andrew Storey; verses 1 and last retained from Storey.