The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-10-07
THE HELP CT HEADWlNDS.
How the Adversities and Hindiances
Of Life Develop and Train the
Christian Character.

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Human life IS a voyage, but our
Heavenly Father does not give us the
control Of the weather. If He did, We
should be apt ~ choose nothing but
smooth seas. fair winds. full cargocs,
and secure harbors God is wiser than
we are. and He no more consults rs
than ] consult my grass-plot as TO when
shall use the mower, or my grape
vines whether | shall prune away The
surplus branches
on a certain night We are told that
Christ Jesus directed His disciples 10
cross the lake Of Galilee lie knew that
storm was coming. but He did not
tell them. They found it out for them
selves before they had gone very far;
and Peter. who was an "Old hand on
that lake. had never known a rougher
night or an angrier sea The wind is
right in their teeth. and the waves ham
mer the bow Of their fshlng-smack like
iron sedges With all their sturdy pulls
az the oars they make but little head
way. They are learning some lessons
that night: and so are some Of my read
ers who are now passing through storms
OF trouble and are enveloped by the
darkness Of a mysterious Providence,
says Rev. DR. Theodore L. Cuyler. in
the Christian Work. They are learning
the blessings Of headwinds and what
spiritual hope they bring 10 us.
Prosperity very often breeds self-con-
ceit both in a Christian, in a church and
In a nation. We take 10 ourselves the
credit When we are hard up" We are
apt TO call upon God for what We need:
when we have got It We are equally apt
to set It down to our own skill or our
own seamanship. Prosperous churches
congratulate themselves on the elo-
quence and popularity Of their pastor.
on the inflow Of people TO their pews
and Of money into their contribution
boxes. When the children Of Israel had
things to their liking, they forgot God
and turned idolators; when calamities
overlook them. they we're driven back
TO God, and cried Justify for His de-
livering arm. One OF the subtlest forms
OF sin Is self-direction. We ignore God
and sot up will and choose a way Of
our own. He IS too wise and too loving
TO allow this and He often sends a stiff
gale into our faces for our chastisement
and correction. Whom He loveth He
chasteneth: the self-willed and the re-
bellious are left to go on the rocks.
Headwinds strengthen the sinews and
develop strong characters. Many Of our
Americans who have attained 10 the
highest work Of honor and usefulness
were Seasoned" IN their youth by sharp
adversely AS Joseph was prepared by
pit and a prison for the premiership
Of Egypt. so Abraham Lincoln was edu-
Gated for his high calling by severe
study Of a few books in a log cabin, and
by eating the tonic bread Of a labori-
ous poverty. II he had been born in
the brown stone mansion Of great city
and reared in luxury. his biography
would have read very differently. and
perhaps history might never have heard
Of him Probably the best part Of
George Washington's training for his
destiny was his rough experiences In
the frontier wilderness. I seriously
doubt whether the luxurious style Of
life IN some Of the highly endowed uni
versites turns out as stalwart a type
Of intellectual manhood as was pro-
duced in the plain uncarpeted rooms Of
the old-fashloned primitlve-looklng
colleges. Silver spoons and soft raj
ment are not the regimen for heroes
Smooth seas and gentle breezes never
make a sailor.
The great purpose Of our Heavenly
Father in this school-llfe on earth n
TO develop a vigorous character
Count It all Joy. my brethren" said the
Apostle James, when ye fall into mani
fold trials. knowing that the trying OF
your faith wOrketh patience" Afilic-
tlons often come upon bad people for
their sins: but God sometimes sends
Affections upon good people 10 make
them still better. That hard rowing
In the night-storm on Galllee proved
the disciples pluck and gave new fiber
to their slnews. They were learning to
endure hardness" and were rehears-
ing their subsequent experiences In the
teeth Of prosecuting Sanhedrins and
bloodthirsty Herods.
Adversely brings out the graces and
the beauties Of the noblest Christian
character. As a fne mansion Is often
concealed In rich summer foliage. but
stands out IN its architectural beauty
when wintry winds have stripped the
trees bare. so we find that many Chris
tians show their graces to better ad-
vantage when God has let loose the ten
pests on them. The furnace Of amictiOn
is heated up for gold-not for gravel
stones. Then, too, the seasons Of trial
make us more watchful. In smooth
weather the sailor may swing In his
hammock; but a piping gale brings all
hands on deck, and sharpens the eye
Of the lookout" at the bow. David
never fell during HIS seasons Of severe
trouble: It was the warm sunny days Of
prosperity that brought out the adders.
Noah weathered through the deluge
Of water nobly; II was the deluge Of
wine that drowned himl All. brethren
D. II 4 ma