A SPRIG OF PARSLEY

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 6, 1 December 1930, Page 15

A SPRIG OF PARSLEY

It is delightful to be thought about and cared for. Personal happiness is greatly enlarged -when that thought and care is directly expressed and almost hidden an the love that invokes iit. And yet this is bui the commonplace od ; family life m the home. A oomimonploce that, being common, witnesses to a. God of love, m whom all good has its inception, and by whom every kind thought is inspired. So, it seemed to me, when, so pirivileged, my breakfast was brought to (me before I rose: a. simple meal, and resting upon it, a sprig of parsley. A little thing m. itself, and yet suggestive of so much. The little. ' sprig added nothing to the utility of the food. It had had to be gathered at the time, to be, as it was, so redolent of the morning rime of the garden . ; : An incidental emblem often achieves the isame result as a considered gift or action. It revives hope, stimulates endua'anace, and loften (merges mere surmise into possession. Lord Fisher m his "Records" mentions (that when he was Oommander-iii-Ohief m the Mediterranean he was one day inspecting a destroyer of 260 tons. The Admiral was shown over iftie /boat by the young lieutenant m comtmaaid. AH wasi m first class order. 'When they came to the wheel an inscription caught Lord Fisher's eye — "Ut veniant omnes " "Hallo," he isaid, "what the deuce is that?" Saluting me, he said, "Let 'em

all come . ■' ' Lord Fisher : comments : "This was not boastingj buiti efficiency. " In all lives there are ill-suggestions that cpme and go uncontrolled 1 by the conscious will. We hate them and would do anything m our power te escape from them. After some blessed' time of quietness and peace, these invaders are sure to be near. Are we to run. away, to seek (shelter aoid yield to the blast? By no means; it were better itb take the motto, so crudely a-endered, from the tiny destroyer— ' 'Let. 'eni all come." That small boat could do no effectbive work unless supported, ©o venturing *iq stand against all ai&saults we know that quite cilose, though unseen, is the s 'j;portinb strength of the King of Kings and Lord of Hosts. V . ■ A sprig of paisley, m itself of no value— at one time even a symbol of folly— when offered iseoretly, m lwve, is invaluable; it becomes' a conveying medium of comfort. It is ailmost vocal, speaking comfortably. In the days of Wicliffe and Hooker "to comfort," a® the derivation of the word indicates, ■when, used, did not always mean, as it so generally does now, ito allay effort and soothe. Bather "to comfoirt" was to impart strength ; to> increase fortitude, ito invigorate. In the days of martyrdom and peTsecutioin for the faith, a great deliverance was only rarely wrought, but power to endure was wonderfully granted. Christian, heroes acquired strength while being led m the plane of the will of Gou. In ihe .sixteenth century the pathway of the righteous

was not strewn wiith rosea but with thorns. -■:,... , : We are unable to tivace or define! the influence that inspires the thought and care shewn towards each, other by members of the family m ifche home, or shewn, by any one of them, to the stranger without the gate or to the outcast beyond the pale. Irfj . may be put down ]to natural character , or to habit and custom. May it not be like gravity m natural law— the accepted expression of the indomitable will of God. ' . , •. . •■■ .." .. ■' .■".■.' :;■■ More than a century ago— the story has often been told— -.Henry Martyn, Senior Wrangler, Missionary, amd! translator of the Bible into many languages, when m some gloom and depression on his way to commence ibis great career m India, called at the Cape of Good Hope, at that time on the British highway to the East. He rose early to walk up Table Mountain. ■He wrote: '"I went on chiefly alone. I thought on the Christian life — what uphill work it is — and yet there are streams flowing down from the height®, just as there was water coming down by the kloof which we ascended. Towards the top it was very -steep, but the hope of being soon at the summit encouraged us ibo ascend very lightly." As the kloof opened, a 'beautiful, flame coloured flower appeared m a little green ihollow, waving m the breeze. Mf ->. wrote: "It seemed to be an kii.v.v.m of the beauty and peace of heaven, «is it -shall open, upop the

weary soul when its journey is finished." A oommenitor on this incident notes; "By the sight of the wild flower God could cheer a noble but morbidly dejected mam, and show him a door open m lieavenior. iiis consolation." : The sprig of pairsley ; the mountain flower; the defiant mottjo, grounded upon duty, all .acted as influences from without upon personal, conduct. What is guidance? How can we explain it as we yield it obedience? What we most certainly know we are unable to interpret. We are sure that guidance is grounded m love. Love that never fails. Love that moves the world. ■ 0. A. de L.