THE SABBATH HOUR

Northern Advocate, 24 September 1927, Page 3

THE SABBATH HOUR

POSTCARD PHILOSOPHY.

(By the Rev. James Aitken, 1V1.A.)

The editor of a London journal reeently offered a prize of £5 for the best philosophy of life which could be written on the back of a postcard. There Were nearly a thousand entrants for the competition, A great many of the postcards sent in were, of course, futile: they missed the point of the question. And, indeed, judging from the examples quoted when the result was announced, most of the competitors offered a principle, a maxim, for the guidance of life, rather than a philosophy. The best of the examples quoted are the briefest, and contain in a few words a great deal of wisdom. ‘'Swim with the stream of life,” is the briefest of all. That may be a very wise or a very foolish maxim. It depends upon what you mean by the stream. If you mean the superficial current, the immediate trend of things, the play of petty influences about us, then the maxim is very foolish. It puts aside .ill striving, deprecates all heroism, recommends the line of least resistance. Swim with the stream, do what your neighbours do, make the standards of the world your standards, and the commendation of the world your aim. It is a quite clear, simple and practical principle; but it is absolutely and utterly unworthy. None of us but feels that. There are duties, responsibilities, opportunities calling us, which demand that we rise above the common level of selfishness and ease. And in truth the way of the ease loving, worldly, selfish man, is not the way of life. The stream of life runs deeper than that. Life is love: /that is goodwill and service. That is the true life for men and women. And if the maxim, “swim with the stream of life,” be taken in that deep and serious sense, it becomes one of the wisest, if not one of the most lucid, of them all.

Another of those maxims runs, “Forget the past, make the best of the present, and don't worry about the future. ’’ Again that may .be good or bad advice according to the meaning you tgke out of it. There is Scriptural warrant for forgetting the past and for facing the future withuot worry or undue care. There are many tilings in the past which it i.s folly to dwell on, and many things in the future which it is folly to worry about. But the maxim must not be applied too rigorously, otherwise it reduces human life to the level of the beasts of the field. Experience has its lessons for us: anticipation and forethought avoid many blunders and much suffering for ourselves and' for others. God did not give us the faculty that “looks before and after,’' in order that we might live only in and for the passing hour. A little longer, and a great deal better, is this counsel, “Accept lifers task humbly and gratefully; strive to discharge it faithfully; thereby preparing to lay it down, without resentment and without fear.’’ You can see a real philosophy of life shining through a. maxim like that. Life is regarded not as a mere chance, bnt as a trust. Its tasks and duties not as a mere burden, hut as a privilege and an honour. Its great business is to be faithful in big things and little, Death is not ignored, but neither is it dreaded. This is the philosophy of a wise, well balanced, practical mind. God is not named, but He is recognised all the same. I like the emphasis on fidelity. Faithfulness to one’s duties, to one’s responsibilities, to one’s promises, in important matters and in trifles—Christ had a great deal to say in praise of that virtue. It is a virtue well worth cultivating. The world would be a happier place for us all if it were commoner.

But the best of all those maxims —and it was the one which gained the prize—is this: “Love, trust, dara,

I and go on doing it.” Is not that just Christianity put in a nutshell? You remember Christ’s views of what was most important in life. ''Thou most workable —is not simply a senshalt love the Lord thy God; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Love, in the widest sense of the term— widest and timent 'or emotion; it is an active goodwill, ever ready and indeed eager to serve. It is practical goodness — the kind of attitude, towards God and man, which leads to the utmost usefulness. You remember, too, Christ’s cheery word, “Have faith in God.” Tilings are never so bad as they seen. He says to us; Lift up your hearts. There is always God to trust to. Love, trust and dare. Christ had a warm leaning to men of venturesome spirit. It was not the man who "was supremely intent on hedging his life about securing his own interests, playing for safety, who won His regard and affection. It was the man with a touch of recklessness about him —aye and more than a touch of recklessness: the man who was willing to take great risks, to forsake all and follow Him. Peter and James and John, leaving their fishing boats; Matthew locking the door of his custom house; Mary breaking the alabaster box of ointment; Zacehaeus abandoning his dignity; the widow parting with her last coin—how Jesus loved these men and women. And how Ho would love to see us do anything like what they did. Love, trust, dare —Christianity in a nutshell. And "go on doing it.” For "he that endureth to the end shall be saved!”

SENTENCE SERMONS. (By Roy L. Smith.) IT IS A PlTY——That so many men get through school without getting an education. —That so many small men are influential in so much big business. —That so much literature is printed which is not literature. —That so. much done “for sweet ■charity’s.sake” results in bitter-

ness, —That so many people get church membership confused with religion. —That so few people can be happy without spending a lot of money. —That so few people know how to manage money after they have earned it. PRAYER. 0 Lord, our Heavenly Father, Who orderest all things for our eternal good, mercifully enlighten our minds, and give us a iirm and abiding trust in Thy love and care. Silence our murmirrings, quiet our fears, and dispel our doubts, that, rising above our afflictions and our anxieties, we may rest on Thee, the Rock of Everlasting Strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. LOVE’S HOUSE.

They made my love a quiet house Beneath the, grasses deep, And twice a day the tide goes by To hush her in her sleep. The walls were lined with ivy green And shells from out the sea, And there through all the changing days She lies, and waits for me, i It is no house of pain or tears— She knows these never more, For sorrow falls upon its knees And dares not cross the door. The stillness of the brooding hills Unto its peace is given; And though its floor be in the dust, Its windows are in heaven.

The waves will croon her slumber-song, The lark sing in the sky, And in the star-shine silently My shadow watch thereby; And (till the night no more shall sink But cloudless morning break, My heart must love the things she loved The deeper for her sake. Lauchlan Mac Lean Watt.