Silent Victories

REV. MARTIN SINDELL

The Psalmist looked farther into the star-lit canopy than do people ordinarily, when he exclaimed, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge." People who have no knowledge of the infinite Creator, and who never have heard "the old, old story," may thoughtlessly tread upon earth's carpet of varied colors, or look in mute astonishment at the splendor of the heavens; but to him who has learned God's alphabet, and who interprets aright the heavens above and the earth beneath, all creation teaches grand lessons, and one of these is that its victories are stately and silent.

Each morning the darkness of the night is overcome, and that easily, because light is real (something), while darkness is unreal (nothing).

No sound of battle greets the ear,
And yet the forces fight;
No cries of pain or flights of cheer
Mark the defeat of night,—
'Tis silent victory!

How often have we watched for the coming of spring. The winter has been so long and cold, its hold so intense that it seemed quite impossible for anything to disturb it. The solid stream, will it ever flow again? The frozen ground, can it ever be clothed with flower? The trees that now seem so dead, will they be again arrayed in beautiful foliage? In "still, small voice," the reassuring answer comes, "Yes, the sunshine of spring will produce a wondrous change." Summer's day will take the place of winter's night. "The earth, the air, the sky [will] teem with delighted existence." And this marvelous transformation will be effected with ease, in golden silence.

The Spring-time, clad in armor bright,
Fast conquers ice and snow;
Without a groan the Winter Knight
Accepts his overthrow,—
'Tis silent victory!

Rain, rain, rain! Days and days of cloud and storm! Will it ever cease? Will the sun ever shine again? Yes, and the clearing may take place so gently in the night that the sleeping infant is not awakened. If in the day the "conquering hero" comes, 'tis so noiselessly that we are not aware until a flood of sunshine fills the earth.

The clouds so dark, the sun beguiles,
To where we may not know;
The glory of dear nature's smiles
Sets earth and heaven aglow,—
'Tis silent victory!

How long the world had endured the dark night of sin and disease!— a darkness more than Egyptian, — until in the "fulness of time" the Light of the world appeared, the Sun of Righteousness, with healing in his wings. In him was no darkness at all. Silently, too, he came. The earth felt no jar. The heavens were still, save for the angelic refrain, "On earth peace, good will toward men." The presence of Jesus was needed, but though he came to his own, his own received him not. There was a light in the midst of the darkness, but "the darkness comprehended it not." Here and there this light dispelled the darkness and healed the sinful, but very few had comprehended the truth in its beauty and fulness, otherwise the anguish of darkened rooms would have been lessened.

Nineteen hundred years is but as yesterday when it is passed. Once more the light has appeared, and by its radiance the way to eternal harmony is made plain.

When the Christian Science text-book appeared, it came gently. It was not thrust upon the world by our revered Leader. In the sick-chamber it silently made itself known and felt. It came in the fulness of time and in an hour of dire necessity. The night was black with materialism; coulds of human hypotheses left no opportunity for the Sun of Righteousness to shine in its fulness upon the sin-sick, the disease, and the dying. The winter of sensuality, avarice, inhumanity, and cold intellectuality seemed all too long and drear, but the dawn of a brighter day began to light up the pathway to health, holiness, and everlasting bliss. Christian Science, replete with divine wisdom. illumines the path more and more as we journey out of matter into Spirit, then "truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His son Jesus Christ."

Now on earth and sea the glad message of peace, good will toward men, once more breaks upon the waiting ear. The "little book" is read in the quiet hour and sheltered nook by the sick and weary children of earth, and from them the burdens of years are rolled away. The flush of health again appears; there is a silent victory.

The world in darkness long had lain,—
But see, the light appears!
The years of night have now been slain
By Love's defeat of fears,—
God's silent victory.

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