Article July 21, 1906 Issue

A Clematis Vine

LUCY E. DOE

I have received some very helpful lessons from a clematis vine which had been planted to climb over my piazza. One day, during the first summer of its growth, I noticed that one of the branches, instead of clinging to the netting which was placed there for its support, had found its way through an opening left between the boards upon which the floor of the piazza rested. I took hold of it to pull it out, when I saw that I was pulling a branch several inches higher up, which was clinging to one of the posts and growing nearer the light. Then I looked through the space where the straying branch had come out, and I saw that underneath the floor, in the dark, were beautiful green leaves, which were so large it seemed surprising that the branch had been able to emerge through the small space it had. During the summer I noticed several other branches do the same thing, but they always came out higher up, and clung fast to the netting or posts, as if determined to keep in the light in the future.

Last summer the vine was covered with blossoms, and as I thought of its early struggles and its present beauty, I was encouraged. I thought how sometimes in our work in Science we seem to get into the darkness of doubt and fear, when apparently our growth has stopped, but we know that the same divine intelligence which guides the little plant through all its experiences and provides for its growth, until it is covered with blossoms, is guiding us. Our struggles with error often teach us to cling closer to Principle afterwards, each demonstration of Truth's power bringing us nearer the light, with an enlarged understanding of God. Another helpful thought which came to me was that the growth of the plant did not stop when it was in the dark. It really threw out larger leaves in its effort to get to the light. Many times since, when seemingly in the dark, I have thought of the little plant and have known that I, too, should come out into the light, since divine Love is "above all, and through all, and in you all."

My heart is filled with love for our dear Leader, who has revealed to us the light of divine Science which leads us out of all error.

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