Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-18

rule. they who Iook upon suffering only
from the outside fail to grasp its fullest
significance, and their sympathy is
moro an expression Of kindly feeling
than of genuine comprehension and
fellowship. Personal experience OF
suffering Internationally deepens our
sympathies, and for this reason I'M
doubtedly, if for no other, we often are
called upon to suffer. No one can do
the largest possible work in world in
which suffering holds so prominent a
place who is not qualified to minister
with pertinent and powerful apprecia-
ton to those in trouble. No ones char
,acter is well rounded, no ones expert
ence of life sufficiently comprehensive,
| no ones sense of personal insignihcan
! and OF entire dependence upon divine
! support is what IL needs 10 be, until the
/ finger of sorrow has been laid upon life |
with it's always painful and often sting |
ing, vet in the end enrolling, touch.
1t is not pleasant TO bear burdens OF
| grief. but it is better to have borne
them than to have gone ignorant OF
their meaning. The deepening Of our
sy1npathies enriches life in many diff
ferent ways. Moreover, the grief from
which we shrink before it comes en-
larges our capacity for useful service
If it tend at first to concentrate atten-
ton on ones self, in the case of every
noble nature it leads the mind away
from self in the end, opens doors of use
fulness I'm various different directions,
and increases the power of service not
only through the enlargement OF sym
pathy, but in other equally practical
ways. A great grief never leaves one
Il. ,f-,r- oc
which, unless outwsrdly supported, it
seems to crush. But most of us, after
the first numbing effect has had time to
pass, it impels to action, at first in or
der that we may forget ourselves, and
. then with the nobler hope of prevent
ing our saddened, sometimes almost
hopeless, lives from being also fruit
less.
1t is another mission of grief, more
!, over. to teach us to understand better
the character aud the history of oul
: Lord. Until we have suffered, His suf
ferings are but pictures before oui
minds. They may affect us, and ever
=, deeply, as dramatic representation
- upon the stage brings momentary tear
- TO eyes which will smile again as sool
= as the everyday world has been reen
| lcICQ. Out u nave SO- 49, -
to have drunk of the bitter cup in an
form, means TO understand in the sens
of personal comprehension and fellow
ship something of what the trials an
=. temptations of Jesus meant to hin
Whatever brings Him closer to us an
us to Him makes more plain the beaut
'"s and sweetness of His character. II
A~S perfectness of His example, the encou
agement which radiates from ever
thought of Him, this uplifts and e.
mobiles us Truly the ministration
u'u grief is to be accepted with thanldu
inc ness. There is little danger that v
nc shall seek suffering. We are not
constituted, but when I'm the divil
lm' providence we are face to face with di
DC tress of any kind, let it be remember
that the Divine hand is no less powS
see full for support and guidance, the Divi
e q heart no less loving, the Divine wisdc
ou- no less perfect and pertinent TO o
nm needs than when smiling skies We
AIT above us and the way of life before
was smooth.-Boston Congregation
ist