I Trust, I Serve, I Am Strong
Contributed by Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, MO
I won’t pretend to understand the scope of Guru Nanak’s Universal vision
And never having heard his voice I can’t conceive it
But sitting, singing here Mardana-like with you I do believe it.
I do not have the grace of Guru Angad when he served
And poured the cold, cold water down upon his beloved Guru
But facing the morning’s call each day I trust and know it’s true.
I could not share as Guru Amar Das did
And sit, a king but humbly beside the beggar for my food
But eating here together now at last I have langar’s clue.
I love and have compassion but Guru Ram Das is the saint,
An example to, and exoneration of, all sinners
I feel and know within my soul of souls, it’s true each time I serve.
Guru Arjan had no fear and gracefully sat
upon the fire-heated iron without a single painful tear or cry
Pray I one day soon I too will not hesitate and finally be strong.
I cannot bring two worlds to one as Guru Hargobind could do
and live a fearless saintly life to show how to be true
But seeing brothers and sisters beginning strong I know it can be done.
Guru Har Rai earned all his food, respected every animal and plant
Walking carefully among the flowers, God’s graceful loving Sant
I pray to step as he did step upon the path of infinity and love.
Guru Harkrishan blessed a beggar to expound upon the scriptures brilliantly
And that light has perhaps inspired these few words in me
God’s ways are rich and varied, infinitely so, and
such grace-like water falls down upon a dry and dusty land.
In Guru Teg Bahadur, Tyag Mal Master of Renunciation
The Shah’s wan and worldly offering fell on holy ears that listened calm and prayerfully
to God’s graceful loving praise
And so it aids me now in my own stand to battle and to win against this maya’s weary woes
When Guru Gobind Singh first realized the loss of his four sons
There was within his heart only love for God’s sweet will and eternal reasons
And he knew, as I too one day will, that God prevails so far, far beyond earth’s green and watery dew
Oh my beloved Siri Guru you bless my worn and worried brow
To touch your skirts each day, each day
Though even by my Guru and God’s blessed grace I oath I don’t know how
In this World, this Sikh has no choice but to bow
To find a solid holy place
Each memory a moment true, comforting, strong and wise in every Guru’s trace.