Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-07-31
AT THE CHURCHES

Rev. B. j. III. Shaw spoke on the |
"Wayside Discoveries" Sunday morn
ing at the Congregational church.
After speaking of the interest and
enjoyment of walks in out of way
places. he said in part: ''There are
waysides also in the moral and spirit
ual world and some of the richest
blessings come to us as we linger few
moments here and there in our
travels.
THE life of most people is an aver
age life where great events seldom
happen. where the daily path is often
monotonous. 1t will be a good thing
for US if we learn how to realize the
monotony by finding what is interest
ing and delightful as we journey along1I
"Just as we NAV discover many
wonderful and beautiful things when
we take leisure walk, SO we may find
as we 60 through the human world
that it is not SO dull and uninteresting
as it seems to those who rush through
it in the hurry to seize something far
away ahead of them. We may pass
men and women every day and see
nothing in them. We may say they
are coarse, wicked, selfish. Human
life is a mOnotonous plain, an arid
desert-thati is how 1T appears to those
who never rest by the wayside or sit
n hu 70 en-
out what it really is.
"But there are pleasant places,
bright spots where we can rest, find
out good comfort and enjoy ourselves.
We meet with little kindness. small,
thoughtful acts, we are touched by
the sympathy and affection of others.
"The wayside experience of human
| nature gives us view of it. We see
the unexpected good poisoning out
of it's waste places and we know that
thorn natures have a smooth and
harmless side to them No school
could ever teach US how to discern
the better element in those people
| who discourage us by their slowneSS of
response to the appeal of truth and
goodness. We learn these discoveries
as we come into closer contact with
HUMANITY.
| "This deeper and more accurate
knowledge of men and women is
mainly picked up by leisurely and
observant travel. We find many a
| flower hidden away underneath some
prickly bush. and SO a life may at
first repel US by it's unfriendliness
but on larger acquaintance we see it
bloSSoming out into beauty and good
will.
"Our tolerance toward the opinions
and prejudices of others come as the
result of this more careful study of
life as we loiter by the roadside. We
learn more about the weak will, the
Inherited appetite, and our compass.
ion broadens. n
There is no road that is altogether
dreary and desolate. The sun shines
out and the pathway is lighted. God
cultivates the borders and sows invisi-
BILE seeds which spring up in patience
and faith. His gardens are along the
path and especially where the way
| farerS are most tired and where
refreshment is most needed.
| sit is the casual discovery, the
| overcoming surprises by the way
side of life which save us from utter
WEAKNESS and give US fresh strength
to go forward and new scenes quicken
the dropping Interest," turn of the
road starts curiosity to see what is
around the corner.
| "By the Wayside we find our best
thoughts, our richest experiences.
We catch them in our moments of
leisure when we leave the thronged
and busy highway of the world and
go aside into some quiet place where
we give time to let the purest infiu-
enceS enter our lives. Patience,
strength to live and to endure are
gathered by the way. Let US learn
that everything we need to help US to
go through the journey of life with a |
cheerful heart, sure of the glorious
end Of it, may be found by the way
side"