The Tupelo journal., 1903-01-16

Ia Just as Necessary to Spiritual
WelI-Being rs Is Rest
to the Body.

There are two distinct principles in
life, both of which are absolutely nee
essary to healthy existence. These
are exercise and rest. They are life's
balances. So much rest in n scale
means possible so much work in the
other. The harmonizing or balancing
of these two principles make a life
normal and gives promise to possible
ties. Nature illustrates the necessity
of these two principles in physical life
by ap~portioning time to each. She
gives man day for work; she provides
night for the generation of new vigor.
During the day mar eXpends energy
that he may regain new supply in rest
full sleep. By night he stores up new
strength to putfit forth again during
his working hours. Thus these two
portions of life are complementary;
one exists for the other; one is i'm
possible without the other. If a man
neglects rest he forfeits energy, says
Christian Work, and his work suffers.
God has so provided for II physical
nature.
But His laws are no less binding
upon the spiritual life. Man must
work in order to preserve his spiritual
well-being. And he must withdraw
at times from the output of spiritual
activity to replenish and reenergize
the powers of the soul. Christ was
teaching one side of this truth when
He drew the parable of the talents.
He who buried his talent lost capacity
from non-use. They who used gained.
And again, when He said to His dis
ciples: Come ye apart and rest
awhile" He emphasizes the other
side; for He knew that expenditure
demanded refilling.
The active side of Christian life has
been emphasized again and again. And
it should be; for it's place and impor-
lance in spiritual progress and vigor
is unquestionable. Spiritual exercise
gives fiber and character to religious
life. But outward activity is only the
manifestation of the spiritual life.
within. And because that life is a real
ity we should treat it with at least
the same respect we pay to our ply
steal being. Both are governed by
laws that make for health when
obeyed. Either will grow d~ebilitated,
devitalized, when the laws are dis
obeyed. If our spiritual life demands
rest for r~ecuperation, no less does our
higher life demand that which cor
responds to physical rest, in order
that the spiritual demand may take
on new strength for wider activity.
The time of prayer and meditation is
that time when the soul draws near
est to God and is most conscious of
His real presence. Most beautifully
has Paul II. Hayne expressed the de-
sire of the soul for prayer and medi-
tation in one of his sonnets:
Happy the heart that keeps its twilight
hour,
And in the depths of heavenly peace re-
clined,
Longs to with thoughts of tender
power,
Thoughts that ascend like angels beau
tiful,
A shining Jacobs adder of the mind.
But this quiet hour in the spiritual
life is by no means a time for mere
passivity. Meditation is not stagna-
ton. 1t is frequently time of earnest
struggle. The deeps of the soul are
often broken up. But the spirit of
God moves upon the face of the wa
tiers, calling into being new energies
and new influences. Within these quiet
hours of pregnant striving are born
the forces that expand and deepen
life and mold it into solid character.
From these silent hours go out lines
of light and strength that bless others
as well as ourselves in word and deed.
In preparation for the positive activ-
tiles of Christian living, prayer and
meditation correspond to that time
nature sets apart for replenishing nat
ural forces.
Is there not need for the Christian
world to more practically learn this
lesson? The age in which we live is
not a meditative me-. The mass of
men never stop to think; they do it
on the run. The unremitting CONNER
cial spirit seems to have penetrated
every domain of life. The world of
rush and competition has affected the
spheres Of home, society and religion.
Ours is IN age of unrest, nervous, en-
ergetic, brilliant. Eternal vigilance
and ceaseless activity are the price of
success in business. The student is
hurried through a curriculum stretch
ing over a dozen years. His diplomas
bear witness that he has gulped down
so much Latin, Greek and mathemat-
les. HIS after life, too, often declares
him ole more among a large class of
mental dyspeptics. The ministry has
been swept into the rushing current.
The message of God to His people is
a polished sermon, written under tre-
mendous pressure, in certain fixed
time. The study is a grist mill. Ser
mon-making is a grind" Every spare
hour is invaded by an urgent call. Rest
is an incident. Work, work, work is
the main business of living, and shat
tered nerves and drained powers are
matters for post-mortem considera-
ton.
We do not ~disparage hard work.
The work that gives the very best that
is in a that uses his very best pow
srs, that is intense, self-sacrificing, I'M
selfish, comes nearer to expressing the
Christlife. But work that entirely neg
lects the worker, that wears out with
never a thought of building up, that