Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-07-25

disciples begin to realize how tired
they are. But apart with Jesus means
that all the forces of Nature are
united to revive and refresh, and the
mighty wind which was hushed to
quiet by the voice of the Master on an
other occasion now fans the cheeks OF
the disciples and whispers a mes
sage of new life and hope. AS their
relaxed and tired bodies are stretched
out on the deck and their faces are
turned upward, what inexpressible
calm and rest roll in upon the soul
from the eternal heavens above them,
and as each star in its own indiyid-
ua1 beauty breaks on their vision,
what messages they bring, for the
One whose hand has placed them far
above in the distant blue is with them
in the boat caring for them. Their
WEAKNESS is gone, and, as the early
morning sun begins-to tinge the east
with its glories, they awaken to-find
their boat grating on the sands of
the shore and Jesus smilingly leading
the way to land. The clear notes of
the birds greet them, and the grass
and trees and flowers bid them well
come. All, how Nature must have re-
joiced at the coming of its Lord and
Creator, even while an unbelieving
world was turning from Him in self
seeking blindness! Rest for the body
is needed, and it can best be found
where the Lord leads apart for little
while, and where we can hear Him
say: Il am come that ye might have
life, and that ye might have it more
abundantly.
Enlargement for the Subtitle
groves were Gods first temples and
how the soul has chance to expand as
it goes afeld with its Lord in, the
early morning. Perfect vacation rest
must include enlargement of the soul.
The wayside well, the blooming lilies
of the field, the twittering sparrows,
the ri pening fields of grain, the mus
tard seed, the barren fig tree, the
field of wheat and tares, the fiocks
feeding on the hillside, the vine-clad
slopes of Mount Olivet, all were the
mediums through which the Lord
bore home to the hearts of His disci-
pies the spiritual lessons of which
they stood in need. And Nature to-
day is just as faithful a medium of
y
Heaven-sent message. The time of the
vacation rest is when Nature ought to
find us in our most teachable mood,
even as the summer clothes her in her
most attractive dress and makes her
a most willing and faithful teacher.
AS we withdraw from the busy activ-
ity of the work-a-day world, we then
have time for reflection. That little
bird in the leafy tops of the tree I'M
der which we swing in restful ease in
our hammock can teach us of a Fa-
theirs love and care, for mot a spar
row falleth to the ground without
your Father"
AS the flowers and the birds and
the ripping waters of the lake spoke
their lessons to the hearts of the dis
ciples on that morning how it must
have prepared them for the evidence
of Gods love and care as He feeds that
vast multitude with the few loaves
and fishes. Their hearts made ten
der by Natures wooing to receive
the larger lesson of Gods miraculous
power! Do you know, dear friend,
that if during your vacation rest you
will sit at the feet of Nature and
humbly learn her secrets and hear
her testify of the Heavenly Father
who careth for you, your eyes will
be opened to see the miraculous work
ings of the Spirit of God on the hearts
of men. and you will find yourself
mel through which God can pour His
power and His blessing upon the
needy world? And so the enlargement
~. ,,1,
of Nature will open up new channels
of service.
New Channels of Service.-Had the
disciples remained behind to serve
that needy multitude in the weari-
ness of their own bodies and their
human limita tions they would have
failed, miserably fa1led, and in dis
coura cement, perhaps, given up their
Christian service altogether. But
Christ calls them apart for awhile,
and when they are refreshed, beh old,
the multitude. which has skirted the
shores of the lake in Its eagerness to
be near the Lord, is once more before
them and an unexpected opportunity
presents itself for serving them. In
obedience to the Lords command they
seat the motley throng in compa MES
that they may be better served; then.
taking the loaves and fishes, over
which have been spoken the words of
blessing by the Lord, they pass around
breaking the loaves and fishes and
dealing out beautifully andy always
with an armful to give to the hun
cry soul just beyond. Here is the
lesson for you and for me. The per.
feet vacation rest opens up new cham
nels of service. gives us new oppor-
tunities of helping those about US
and the needy ones left behind when
we went on our summer outing.