Who has not been faced with the need of making an important choice between two things? This should be a happy and calm occasion, for the Scriptures tell us that God's guidance is always at hand for those who are willing to accept it; and His directing is plain and clear, never puzzling. Indeed, Isaiah assures us, "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Then if we do not always seem to hear Love's voice, would it not be well to remember the Master's terse question, "Having ears, hear ye not?" The voice of God is always at hand, and the recorded lives of history's great men and women bear ample testimony to divine guidance. To mention only one instance—Abraham Lincoln acknowledged with gratitude the divine help he received. His success we all know. Then if God's directing voice is here, and yet we do not hear it, it would seem that we need a course in spiritual eartraining. Effectual listening must be faithful, not merely impulsive. Let us ask ourselves whether we listened wholeheartedly before the present trial came upon us. The ear does not become attuned to Truth on sudden impulse. Even as the discriminating human sense of hearing that can pick out the individual notes of each instrument in a symphony orchestra is the result of training and practice, so the hearing ear, "spiritual perception" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 585), is ours only as we give evidence of progressive growth.

This musical analogy was once very helpful to a student of Christian Science. In a time of severe trial she clung to her faith that God would direct her; yet there seemed no way out of a certain grievous situation. However, there was without doubt some right thing for her to do, some humble step to be taken. Striving to hear the word of wisdom, she sought a better understanding of what hearing really is. Thought turned to the simple lessons in ear-training once given her by a teacher of music. In the realm of music, she remembered, the hearing ear is not attained at once. First comes accurate listening to only the simplest melodies; then, little by little, chord intervals are taught. Finally, after perhaps years of gradual progress, the orchestra in full symphony becomes intelligible. Thus, in music, she did not expect to bring out or understand its truth and beauty without preparation.

So, with thought humbled and stilled to listen more closely for the "still small voice" of Truth, she asked God to teach her to hear. She remembered the words, "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord." To what simple call was she closing her ears in disobedience, and so dulling their perception? To refuse obedience in anything, however small, is to deafen that very perception for which we pray. She had thought she was obedient. What had she left undone?

Well, there were copies of The Christian Science Monitor unread; there was mending to be done. These things seemed to have no relation to the immediate trial. But they are all I see to do now, she thought; I will do them and rejoice.

So she began her course in ear-training by obeying the commands of conscience for orderliness, loving coöperation, and promptness. And as in these lesser duties progress was simply and honestly made, the student's new alertness unfolded further. Presently, divine guidance became apparent, and the needs of that time were beautifully supplied.

There were once three Hebrews who heard the voice of God above the roar of flames in a fiery furnace. This was indeed triumphal hearing. But long before this was possible they had listened and obeyed in the less startling demonstration which concerned their daily food. Like Daniel, who had "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank," they partook only of pulse and water. What a step this was for young men who were offered the opportunity of feasting daily on food "fit for a king"! Yet in meek obedience to God's voice, they quickly silenced the suggestion that their health, appearance, and alertness could be affected by material diet, in clear proof of the statement made by Moses and repeated later on by the Master, "Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live."

When the time came for the young Israelites to appear before the Babylonian king, it is recorded that "their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat" and their wisdom and understanding astounded the court. Their splendid story may be read in full in the first three chapters of the book of Daniel. In this Biblical narrative we see that their obedient listening, begun in young manhood, prepared their spiritual perception to hear the voice of God even in the furnace, wherein Truth saved them from all ill results.

Let us not think that God is silent, nor that we can ever be cut off from His perpetual call to serve. Let us not think the "little things" unimportant. The eating of pulse may seem to have been unrelated to the test within the fiery furnace, but that selective eating, expressive of self-control, was preparation; and it was from the Lord, the God of Israel. Like-wise, in this very day, the tests of temptation constitute the occasions for our training in obedience. If we have learned to listen well in the small occurrences of human life, we shall be ready for the larger issues, wherein Truth will be proved triumphant. There is always something to be done even if it is no more than smiling while we wait.