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Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
the wretched refuse of your teeming shores,
send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
The words above are found on a plaque inside the Statue of Liberty. (The video below includes a musical setting of the same.) The verse is secular, without religious reference, but it certainly echoes words of Jesus,
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,Pause For Prayer
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.
(Matthew 11: 28-31)
Who are those in need in my life for whom I might provide
safe harbor, rest and light?
Who waits for my heart to be open?
Who waits for my light to shine and guide?
Whose burdens might I share and help carry?
(This musical setting of Emma Lazarus' words is beautiful - take a few moments on your holiday to listen...)
Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
the wretched refuse of your teeming shores,
send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
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As the grandson of Ellis Island immigrants, these words by Emma Lazarus bring tears to my eyes. An interesting link to Concord: her Wikipedia entry says her writings attracted the attention of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
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