Article August 22, 1901 Issue

Growth

BY A. E. ALFORD

That growth which is the most rapid is not always the most desirable. Many will be familiar with the illustration used when reference is made to the peculiar form of parasitic growth, known as "suckers" which supports itself upon fruit-trees, notably the apple-tree. It shoots out and up from any part of the trunk, growing with great rapidity, beautifully straight, with pretty green leaves spaced at equal distances upon its length. It, however, is only good to look at as it bears no fruit and only lives by virtue of the sap which it sucks from the main trunk. The more legitimate branch, the working, fruit-bearing branch, is often bent, gnarled, and unsightly in its growth, and is always the fruit of many years of steady development. Its position is also higher up, where the sun's light may fall upon its leaves and blossoms, thus giving to its fruit the full, rich development of perfection.

Thus it is with the spiritual.

Beware of the seeming spiritual growth which, thinking only of self, regards too much the beauty of outside appearance from the view of the world, forgetting that while this takes place support is drawn from honest, earnest work which has already been done by others. Beware of rapid growth in knowledge if it is gained at the expense of real understanding which comes through the demonstration of every-day problems by personal effort. When a hard proposition confronts you, face it with all reliance upon Truth and work it out upon that basis, even though it takes more time than you think it ought, and though the outside appearance may seemingly be scarred and gnarled through contact with its error. The strength and life which results will become a part of yourself, and in the reception of God's sunlight of Truth and Love, to which influence you by your action have placed yourself open, will bring forth the beautiful blossoms, ultimating in the rich, substantial fruit of maturity.

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