Article March 22, 1913 Issue

LIGHT

CHRISTINE J. M. SHULTS.

After spending an afternoon in the country a short time ago, I sat on a rustic seat by the roadside, waiting for the electric car which was to carry me to the city. It had been a warm day, but now there was a delightful coolness and freshness in the quiet air. The mountains, with a soft haze resting upon them, brought to consciousness the beautiful psalm beginning, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." The green verdure, with here and there a clump of trees, was soothing and restful. To one living in a city, nature's charms are especially alluring, and in drinking in the loveliness I kept thinking of those spiritual verities of which the apostle tells us, the things which "eye hath not seen," but which are prepared for them that love God.

After getting on the car, it soon became too dark to distinguish objects, and sitting on the front seat I had an unobstructed view of the track ahead, clear and distinct, as far as it was lighted up by our powerful light. Beyond that, everything was indistinct, and around the bend some distance ahead I could but conjecture what awaited us. A beautiful lesson was thus gained. The track could be compared to one's path through life. When lighted by spiritual understanding, one can clearly see his way, obstacles are revealed, instead of doubt there is security, and one can say with the psalmist, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Furthermore, at the crossings a warning gong was sounded, reminding me of our need of ceaseless prayer and watchfulness, of that warning given by our Master, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mrs. Eddy frequently emphasizes this need. "Watch diligently; never desert the post of spiritual observation and self-examination" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 154). Once when the gong was sounded, some persons who were standing too close to the track, promptly stepped back out of danger; and thus if discord of any sort be present, the warning is being sounded, and it behooves us at once to be more active in watchfulness and prayer. As we neared the city, the lights from automobiles and cars going the opposite direction, made the track indistinct and hazy, and again there was the lesson that we must be true to the one guidance, and not allow ourselves to be blinded by materiality.

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