Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-07-09
From the New York Observer
Accepting The Situation.


world just as you would like to have
it. 1fyou were allowed to pick and
choose for yourself among all the
varieties and conditions of life, it is
quite likely that you would get your
self into worse predicament than
you are now in. And when in an
swer to your letter Of bewailing, Il
will not say repining or complainD |
recommend to you the simple advice
to accept the situation, yoa may think
that l under estimate your trouble, or
that l am not in sympathy with you.
But you mistak me. Your trial may
be unlike any other, and more gnev-
Gus to be borne than any of you
friends are called to endure, but | still
repeat, there is great comfort to be
found in simply accepting the situa-
ton"
There are two kinds of trouble that
you should never worry about: things
that you can help, and those you can
not. Ifyou can cure the evil, don't
worry about it, but cure it and be
done with it. Ifyou cannot cure it,
what's the use Of fretting about it =?
"Accept the situation" and wait.
There are two sources of help in
time of trouble, both of them are avail
able. Sometimes it is hard to say
which is the one that supplies us with
the help we need: both of them minis
lister to one who 'accepts the situa-
tiop," and is at peace.
FAITH lays hold Of the unseen and
believes that all is well because the
Infinite God, with wisdom and love,
orders all things for the ultimate and
highest good. Resting on the certain,
ty that He is, and that He rewards an
those who trust him. the believer com
mlts all the matter into the sovereign
hand of Him who numbers every hair,
and suffers not bird to fly without
his notice Faith does not need light. 1t
sees just as far and just as clearly in
the dark as at MONDAY. 1t does not
need promises, though these OK
ceedingy great and precious. II
knows whom it believes, and that it is
able to keep that which is committed
unto him. So that if no word had
ever been spoken, faith is sure that He
who is the Good Shepherd careth fol
the sheep, and will not fail to keep
them safe. have seen this faith in
living exercise where | was almost
|
certain that should fail utterly, if the
trouble were mine. And when the
promises have been recalled, and in
their richness, strength and beauty,
have been recited, faith has risen into
joy and triumph as when martyrs have
gone with songs into flames. But this
faith cannot be enjoyed without ''ac.
cepting the situation" You must
just bow right down to the will Of
Him who orders your little orbit just
as he does that Of the planets rolling
in infinite space. He has marked out
your course; he has mixed the cup
that you are drinking; he has made
the bed on which you lie and whether
you like it as it is, or would have it
quite another thing, it is the best fol
you, and you may as well think so and
''accept the situation" as to be kick
ing against the pricks. or dashing mad
ly against the bars OF your cage. Ii
YOU were to break loose and have
your own way, you would be like
wandering stars to whom is reserved
the blackness of darkness forever. 1t
is love that surrouds you, though you
see not it's arms, nor feel its soft EN-
brace, nor hear its voice saying, 'lt is
I be not afraid" The circumstances
are so trying, the burden is so great,
the sorrow is so severe, you refuse to
Jeliece that it has all been sent in lOve,
and you fret and weep, and refuse to
be comforted. And 1 say, "Believe
and be saved
Philosophy is poor substitute for
faith, but there is great power IN the
proverb "What cant be cured must
be endured" No religionin that adage,
I admit. Religion is the tie be-
tween the soul and the Infinite Spirit.
Philosophy seeks to dispense with that
relation and to minister to the mind
from its depths. And great is the
virtue of a soul that rests on those
ultimate truths which are the ethuence
of the divine nature, though philoso
ply when it holds that "whatever is
is right teaches fact which religion
reioices in when it says "all is wei