I have thought of this poem a number of times recently.  Both in my personal life and watching the national issues play out before us.  I wanted to share it and make it available in my own history and records.

I believe the first time I heard this poem was by our Mission President, H. Bruce Stucki (1937-2019).  I don’t know how many times I heard it, but President Stucki had this poem memorized (with some tweaks).  It became a somewhat unofficial poem of the England Manchester Mission, at least while we were there.

The Upward Reach by Sadie Tiller Crawley

He stood at the crossroads all alone,
The sunlight in his face;
He had no thought for an evil course
He was set for a manly race.
But the road stretched east, and the road stretched west,
And he did not know which road was best,
So he took the wrong road and it led him down,
And he lost the race and the victor’s crown.
He was caught at last in an angry snare
Because no one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.

Another day, at the selfsame place,
A boy with high hopes stood.
He, too, was set for a manly race —
He was seeking the things that were good.
And one was there who the roads did know,
And that one showed him the way to go,
So he turned away from the road leading down,
And he won the race and the victor’s crown.
He walks today the highway fair
Because one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.

The official hymn of our mission was Jerusalem, I believe it still is to this day.  William Blake wrote the words.

And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon England’s mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England’s pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold:
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England’s green & pleasant Land.

It is in light of those two poems that I share this photo.  While I served in Hyde, Kenny Miles, did this painting.  We helped Kenny with service and quite a few various projects.  I was very, very surprised when he presented me with this painting.  It shows me at the crossroads with the Savior.  It also quotes part of the poem Jerusalem.

After reviewing the painting at the apartment in Hyde, at the time, I was not enamored by it because I felt like it looked like I was trying to encourage people to go on the other road away from the Savior.  But as time has passed, it is a pretty picture.  I am impressed, Brother Miles’ talents are much more than anything I could offer.  But now, I feel like I am the one at the crossroads.  Now it means so much more.