Article January 24, 1931 Issue

Retreat and Progress

ARTHUR PERCY JONES

According to ordinary human thought the words "retreat" and "progress" might seem to have diametrically opposite meanings, and not to be in any way complementary to each other.

The word "retreat" serves as both a noun and a verb, and conveys the idea of going back, or of a secluded spot or a quiet resting place. Yet the word has a very definite relationship to progress, and indeed one may say there is no true progress without it. All world leaders, past and present, have spent many formative years in quiet retreat, and most business men periodically rest temporarily from their activities, while in various ways they "take stock" and generally consolidate their position before going on to greater developments of business. If it may, therefore, be conceded that it is a good thing to retreat in this manner in the ordinary affairs of life, it should hardly be surprising if it were even more important in the affairs of real or spiritual life, and in those things which belong to our inward peace.

Jesus, our great Way-shower, oftentimes went apart to commune with his Father-Mother God, sometimes spending the whole night in prayer. Frequently he invited his disciples to join him in such a retreat from the world; and glorious occasions these must have been for them all. One such invitation is recorded in the sixth chapter of Mark's Gospel. It reads, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"Rejoicing in the affluence of our God"