The Tupelo journal., 1902-10-17
UNUSED SOURCE OF STRENGTH
Few People Get ms Much Help from
Their SURROUNDINGS as IL
Always Possible.


1t is an inspiring thought for an
earnest man that there may be sources
of spiritual strength within his reach
which he has not yet utilized. In the
material world powerful
have lain long neglected-steam, cleo
tricity, ETC.; why may it not be the
same in the world of spirit, including
ones own individual spirit?
Perhaps the dream of discovering a
great, absolutely new source of
strength is vain; but it is somewhat
more than probable that certain means
of grace lie near at hand, recognized,
but not used or not half used.
Nature is one such means of grace,
a true sacrament. Not often, however,
when we are in human company. Ex-
claiming "What a pretty sunset"
conveys no real grace to speaker or
listener. Once a week get away from
the children. Get away from even
your husband or your wife. Be queer,
go out alone, and quietly observe the
sky, the clouds, the trees, the shad-
ows, the differently colored grasses.
Soak nature in. That ig one way to re-
freshmen and calm.
Make the effort to have a little re-
ligious conversation with your fellow
men. More of them than o think
know the language of faith and piety
and would like to use it, too, if there
were some one to talk to. 1t is a won
derful help to find this out in men.
Your own timid suggestion comes back
to you, encouraged and braced. Your
confidence in the spiritual and eternal
things is b%roadened and frightened.
We hazard the assertion hat nine out
of ten Christians do not use this source
of strength.
Few people gain as much even from
religious worship as they ought to do.
After a Christian Endeavor service a
few nights ago a man in passing out
said to the pastor: what a helpful
meeting this was" The pastor stared
at him in amazement; in his anxiety
that the meeting should go well he
had been watchful only for its defects.
The other had cast that burden on
the Lord. He had kept praying for
tiC oPSohNlo. 4 lloo LhC ~
hortations into prayers for himself.
He had prayed for his fellow-listeners.
Every reader of these lines could do
as much, and doing so will make every
service he attends holy.
AS every mar needs a hobby outside
his business, so every man needs a
special philanthropy outside his in
evitable duties. Many a useful life
is positively drying up in emotional
power and interest to itself for lack
of an out-of-the-way invalid to look
after, or a weak friend to be protect
ed from himself, OF a boy outside its
immediate family circle who can be
influenced for good. Have something
to labor over and pray for, apart from
your W home, and your daily bust
ness. No mar can be a strong Chris
tian to whom the fields do not look
white to harvest" If they do not look
so to you, it is because you are keeping
too far from the harvest field.
"Above all, taking the shield of
faith" Faith is still, above all, our
source of strength, just as discomfort
with ones own gifts or lot is the chief
cause of spiritual weakness. Your life
is a plan of God. In His plan call
things work for good" Trust Him.
He rs a sun and shield: He will give
grace and glory" Stand in your lot.
Take then thy fate, or opulent or sordid:
Fake 1t and wear it and esteem it blest.
or all the crowns that ever were award
ed,
The crown of simple patience is the
best.
Boston Congregationalist-