Article October 16, 1909 Issue

HAVING EYES, THEY SEE

REV. IRVING C. TOMLINSON, M. A.

It is recorded of the celebrated naturalist, Charles Darwin, that he raised over sixty wild plants from seed imbedded in a pellet of mud taken from the leg of a partridge. Where an untrained eye would have found only the barrenness of death, the penetrative vision of the great naturalist beheld a bright prophecy of growing plants and flowers. Likewise, oftentimes where blind material sense sees only clay and nothingness, spiritual sense finds substance, being, and immortality. In this connection it is worth remembering that those who have eyes which see, also have hands which dig, since demonstration accompanies understanding. Practice is the close comrade of perception.

In the observation of human experience, that which is but a pellet of mud to some, many upon analysis be found to contain many valuable seed-thoughts, and a few of these, having blossomed for one gardener, are now shared with others. The first of these ministers of good to voice its message, represents the lily family, and bears the suggestive name of Wild Oats. It immediately calls to mind the returning prodigal who was sentenced by two judges. One, the elder brother, weighing all things from the standpoint of material sense, saw in the homecoming wanderer only a hardened criminal. The other, having a father's tender eyes, and knowing that the soiled raiment is no part of the real man, found not a child of sin, but the long-lost son. This latter judge, being like him of whom it has been said, "A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench," accorded to the younger son the character which pertained to his true selfhood; and, lo, what to the elder brother appeared to be a pellet of mud, was found to be instinct with life. The prodigal returned, redeemed, restored, was no longer an outcast, but a loving son, and from a father's joyous heart went forth the glad acclaim: "This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."

The next of these seed-thoughts may be given the name of Heal-All, and it suggests how differently two physicians may view the same sick-chamber. The first sees only matter and the material conditions surrounding the patient. Taking into account the testimony of material sense, he attempts to remedy sickness and suffering, disease and death, by material means. The other, the follower of the "great Physician," is not blinded by the material conditions which seem to encompass the patient. Having eyes that see, he knows only Spirit, and the spiritual, the ever living God and the man of His creating. Refusing to accept the material as the real, he perceives not a sick and suffering mortal, but the immortal, spiritual man; and, because of this higher understanding, Paul's words are again proved true: "The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

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