ESCAPING REALITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 57, 7 March 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

ESCAPING REALITIES.

TOO- MANY OPPORTUNITIES,

Here is tlie major part of a timelyarticle in the current number of the "Church Gazette," on escaping the strain of life: — There is an increasing tendency for people to be unwilling to face life and its realities and when they are in that condition it is natural for them to seek a way of escape in various diversions. As a noted medical psychologist in London said recently, "Modern life is replete with opportunities of escape from realities. These means of escape range from chewing gum to morphia and from dancing to ocean cruises." In his opinion, real health demanded that the individual should not be impelled constantly to seek distraction. The human mind and body are extraordinarily adaptable to the stresses which have been laid upon them in the modern era; they have learnt in a measure to adjust themselves, but it is a matter of common sense that in the inevitably increasing complexity of civilisation relaxation is required. Holidays are a way of escape; picture shows give relief to the harassed mother; amusements of all kinds for varied types offer themselves. Moderation and simpler ways of life suggest themselves, too, as necessary. But these are merely superficial remedies. The desire to seek diversion in grotesque forms of amusement is but a symptom of a prevailing characteristic of the present age. There will be 110 ease from the strain of life and no capacity to ease that strain until men and women find God and make Him the centre of their thoughts. A self-centred life not only is ill-directed, but becomes purposeless because it misses the great Reality, whom we call God. By invertin" the proper order of tMsgs, by adopting a false scale of value, modern civilisation has largely eliminated the thought of God from its conduct in life. It is°not God-conscious and' therein is to be found the cause of its unrest. Restlessness will Vemain and no way of escape from the strain of life will be found until it finds God. To rediscover God once more as the great Reality is one of the objectives of Lent. Here may be quoted in full the words of a great Christian who places enormous value on times of quiet in life. The words are as simple as they are valuable. "It is quite natural and inevitable," he states, 'that if we spend 16 hours daily in thinking about the affairs of the world, and about Jive minutes in thinking about God and our souls, this ■world will seem 200 times more real to us than God and our souls. But you must not argue that God is unreal because He seems unreal. You should ask instead if you have given Him a fair chance. You do not give yourselves a fair chance unless you perform frequently what are called acts of faith. That is to say, you must direct your whole force towards divine things when you have a few minutes or even moments to spare. Yo,u will find they open out channels in your mind, which are now clogged up by disuse and yoii will gradually form habits of spiritual communion which will be of inestimable joy to you." Just as a great religion like Christianity has the means of reforming itsell from within, so recovery is always possible to those who have the will to redirect their thoughts to God. If that js done, man will find spiritual health and true satisfaction for all his being.