Beloved

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
—1 John 4:7-10

Beloved: So you call me
as what you made me of,
the origin of all things,
and call me so to love.

Yet this poor dust beneath me
is all I feel myself—
even so, it’s dross of Eden,
inestimable wealth:

You came as dust and ashes,
and dust became pure gold.
I tremble at your passage,
but shine within your hold,

for you will purify me—
yet love me all impure.
Your flames, Lord, terrify me:
O, help me to endure!

Let me remain within you,
within the fire you are,
and learn to love as you do,
mere dust become a star.