Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-06-01
nF ONE AT THE HELM.


lark w. 49,
hanger tears away our DISCUSSES. In
sonrs of peril the true man appears,
md at such times, if ever, the man
gpsks the truth. Fearing the boat
[ss sinking, these men have little
.boncht of the dignity or the divinity
= the one who lies asleep in the helms
mans place; rudely they awaken him
rth their indignant cries, wondering
r,v one who had spoken such won
i 7,1rs words before seems Indifferent
y rov to their danger.
Even man who has been accustomed
"A take God for granted has used al
mast the same words at some time Of
his life The hour Of tempest, when
hp uncomfortable waves Of trouble
md winds of adversely seemed ready
IA oyprWhelm him, when he had done
al that mortal might do, then it
,ppmed SIS though this God to whom he
had prayed so often, of whom he had
Earned to think as a part of his life,
VAS absent OF Indifferent
1t is the question Of every soul in
grrow or testing. Does God care any
#hiDg about me?" 1t is more than
speculative inquiry then. Theologians
may have drawn up their specifications
Of the most high, and, in the peaceful
Ways of their lifes, they may be salts
fed with their handiwork. But when.
even into their clustered walks, some
great sorrow or grim death has come
stalking, then, with dry lips and moist
brow they cry: Master, are you
Z SIeep: Do you not care?"
4 What is there at the helm of this
great ship of life? Is there any one or
.s it steered automatically, blindly
holding its way and needing neither
waves nor rocks nor other craft? Has
this universe a heart or only an en-
cine at its center? The inquiry becomes
pressing and pertinent, indeed, when
1eXpliCable distress and anguish that
seem all unnecessary break down all
the mans strength and courage.
s man can no more content himself
with a far off being, sitting in the
leayens in royal state, winning rev
Gence by remoteness, than his own
1iIdren would be satisfied to know
him only as a sovereign. He Graves
be friendship Of that one he longs
lG compassion, sympathy, assistance
Mch as friend gives to friend; in a
word, he looks for love. You cannot
oye an absentee God any more than
gOu can love an abstraction or a the
Dry.
But the need of one who will come
dose into our lives, who aids in the
hour Of extremity does not meet itself.
Il The fact remains that often we seem
+ to be left to the mercy Of the tempest;
The elements do their worst and no
hand is lifted and no voice Is heard
that still the waves. Full often the
storm seems to finish its work and
only Clinging to the wreckage or swept
On the waves do we come into port.
q Is there any answer to the great
/. question, does any greater one care for
j CUR lives? If we are looking fer an
Z answer as susceptible to demonstra-
. ion as a mathematical proposition we
q IRE doomed to disappointment. Ii is
possible to believe in providence with
tut being able either to prove or fully
@mprchend it. The child must be-
me the parent before he can under
80nd the ways Of the father or moth
N" with him; yet he can know their
We before he can comprehend their
Ways
q Nothing could dc more harm that to
ave The absolute assurance that an al
lightly friend would fly to our aid and
otettjon in every time OF danger or
ted A friend whose power relieved
from the necessity Of prudence or
10rage or endeavor would be a foe
& 1deed. The All Wise loves man too
4 veil and too wisely to make plain al
4 Ways His ways of caring for him and
#0S purposes of protection.
u The furroved faces and whitened
!. ~eadS Of men may be the will of love
truly as the smooth ways Of ease
& @lG complacency. There is one at the
i ~em, but his concern is more for the
j ~&hng Of strong sailors than for the
"pFing Of smooth sailing. The best
i Hoence Of the care of the Most High
u @s all the sons of men is not in the
Immediate unbaring of his arm for
~esr protection, but rather in the man
l es III which he causes the wind and
Viz waves. the struggle with the tenn
IN" the need for the nerying Of the
N0L IN the hour of peril all to work
Mt his will. the will of great love. the
~AStng Of the mariners to his like
N% III character and soul.
.$0LL0WING CHRIST.
By Rev. H. M. Wharton, D. D.