Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-13
GODS WILL AND OURS.


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GODS WILL AND OURS.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven
Matthew, vi, 10.
The radical obstacle to proper rela-
tions between us and the Almighty is
that, in our opinion, His way is not as
wise as our way.
We NAV be quite unwilling to admit
it even to ourselves, but in very truGh
we believe that Providence has made
some grave mistakes In His deailhgs
with us and ours.
The mind of a mortal is always ready
to pit itself against the mind of God.
and unless events occur as we think 1t
best for them to occur we are apt to
ask with passionate utterance, How
could a Heavenly Father do that 2" and
the words, which seem to be only an
INQUIRY, are in point of fact a criticism,
with the Lord in the background as
defendant, while we stand in the fore
ground as plaintiff.
There is a great deal of faith in the
world which, if properly punctuated,
would have the interrogation point,
which represents a doubt, at the end
of it.
Our belief in the goodness and wis
dom of the Almighty is more or less
cutaneous. 1t is not a quality of the
blood which flows through veins and
arteries, giving life and health to the
whole body, but is SUPERFICIAL pecu-
liarity of the conventional man rather
than of the real man. 1t is like a nall
which is driven through the board, but
not being clinched on the under side,
can be easily drawn out. Or, again, IL
is like thin shaving of veneer on a
pine door, which gives the impression
that the door is of solid mahogany,
when it is really made of baser mate
rial.
To say "Thy will be done" requires
more energy than human being can
summon until he has reached that de-
gree of spiritual development In which
the Father ceases to be myth OF the
popular theology and becomes the solar
centre of life around which he revolves,
and from which he receives daily the
genial rays that make him productive
Here in our home, for example, lies q
loved one who has experienced that
mysterious change which we call death
There is deep shadow over the house
hold, and we are filled with dread
Now, what has happened to him who
lies there on the bier; and what has
happened to us who touch the cold
hand and feel our hearts breaking?
One would think that we might have
become somewhat familiar with such
an incident, for the hearse rumbles
through our streets at every hour OF
the day, and ever since creations dawn
churchyards have been laid out in the
vicinity of every village and hamlet.
The sun in his journey shines on more
graves than homes, and the dead out
number the living thousand times
But, though accustomed to the signs of
the sorrowing, there is always blanch-
ed cheek when death knocks at the
door. The old is always new, and we
forever cherish the hope that what
happens in other families will not occur
in ours. That is one of the illusions of
human nature of which we may never
be able to rid ourselves.
Lay your heart bare and tell us what
has come to that loved one whom you
cannot wake from sleep. Why should
there be an element of bitterness run
ming through your sorrow? Over and
above the pain of parting, is there not
a sense of doubt as to the other life,
and is it not that which makes your
grief prick like a thorn? Would you
feel the same if he had gone to Colora-
do, or to any region of the earth where
communication by mail or telegraph is
impossible? If not, what is the differ
ence in your outlook, and what are the
reasons for it?
A careful self-eXamination will prob
ably show that you are tremulous with
unconfessed uncertainty. If you had
sure and we'll established faith you
would know that, so far as he is con-
cerned, he is far better off where he is
than he was when you kissed him good
night week ago. Beneath all your
weeping would be a feeling of graft
tude that he has been promoted to
higher responsibilities and summoned
to an environment which is incOmpar |
ably better than any afforded by this |
lower life. He has solved the problem |
of death, has passed through the dark
valley and is on the sunny uplands of |
Would you call him back if you could |
to suffer still further the sings and ar
rows of outrageous fortune, or do you
rather congratulate him on his arrival
in heaven and ON the sweet companion
ship of those mot lost, but gone be
fore?" Can you say with heart that
beats like muffied drum and with lips
that culver with emotion, "Thy will
be done ?" or will you question Gods
1oings and wonder why He does what
you think ought not to be done? In
other words, and to speak with entire
'rankness, do you lie PROSTATE before
The mandate of eternal wisdom, believ-
ng with all your soul that it is eternal
or do you stand erect in an at
itude of more or less defiance with the
feeling in your bosom that the
Some One who rules the universe has
gnored your rights or manifested in
Inference to them?
If, then, it is we'll with him who has
gone, how can it be ill with you who
'emain? If you think only of your
OWN loss in this matter, does it not
show a willingness on your part to
acrifice his happiness in order to Sc
,ure your own? Is yours a worthy love;
S it true love, or, on the contrary, is
t love which puts yourself first, and
lis welfare in some secondary place
These are questions which must be
lsked and answered.
We have no desire to treat Affections
lightly. Even under the best circum
tances, when you are equipped with
he whole arnor of righteousness, they
ire hard to bear. The falling sod makes
;he air vibrate with means, and grave
s surrounded with profound solemnity
Ind mystery, but beneath the sorrow
ng sense of separation there may be,
Ind there ought to be, a radiant and
uplifting faith that when a few dull Z
,ears have passed you and he will greet 1
ZACH other, and theDceforward there