The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1909-02-12
Seed Sowing.

seed sowing.
] like to think of all the world as
soil for good seed. To SOW such seed
would be farming worth while.
After a thought germ leaves us we
know not where the winds will blow
it nor where 1t will take root. Our
only concern Is that 1t be a right
thought, Il helpful suggestion. Their
we can rest in the confidence that
somewhere in the wide fields Of hui
man hearts it will find lodgment, grow.
blossom and bear fruit.
To SOW such seed only for the good
Of others, without hope or possibility
Of any return for self, it seems to me.
is the most satisfying work a soul can
do. 1t may be that the writing Of a
humble column like this may furnish
an opportunity for such seed sowing.
What I long to do above all other
things is to scatter abroad sugges-
lions Of the Christ life. To fill all ma
lions with peace, with health. with
light, with brotherhood, with beauty
and with a higher, sweeter and gentler
civilization would be a work worth.
while. 1t is to. such ends that / would
have my life work directed. There is
so little l car do, and vet no one could
work with more of love and earnest
ness. Then l feel that God also moves
toward these goals. and with his help
even I may do something. To be
through with petty aims, with tempo
rary causes. with narrow or selfish
plans. and to devote all ones thought,
heart and soul to this larger cfort-I'
can conceive no happiness higher than
this. To go forth as the husbandman,
spreading broadcast such sentiments.
were a seed sowing indeed.
/ have left behind me all hopes ex-
cept that of bringing the Christ dream
on the earth. This is my single desire.
my only goal, my pne aspiration. God
has made 1t so that through a page like
this I may work to such ends and vet
may receive enough so that the souls
given into my care may not suffer. Tt
is enough. He has done it, and it is
but a small return on my part to dedi-
rate my life to him md his work. 1t is
a poor enough offering; hut, such as 1t
Is. all of It, is his. There IS nothing
new in saying such Il thing. only l
mean ii. The world is hungering for
the bread of the spirit. for the water
Of truth. Long enough has it hecn
given husks Of form and empty COB
let's. The cups were beautiful. inlaid I
with silver and gold and rich with
jewels. but there was in them no wal
ter. Better a gourd. better a followed
hand. better a flowing stream with. no,tk
vessel Of form At all. than such empty
CUES. Wafer is the symbol Of God's
pure trn:l', 1t is that for which the
world is thiIE!ing. A cup Of cold wa
ter is the most precious gift we can
bestow. Rut to he cold 1t must be
freshly drawn from the spirit. Not
truth drawn ages ago. not secondhand
truth. but truth of loday-that Is what
the furnished souls need. l can give
but little. hut such as l am able to
give goes with a good will.
The spirit must be free. 1t cannot be
subject to any man-made form or ma
terial bondage whatsoever. We mus
follow truth utterly without regard toll
the effect on self and with no lower
consideration or motive. There is
naught in my soul except the desire
for this. God knows the hearts of
men. For reasons I know not he has
the impulse in me-. and e"
to the wOrk-only to teach the simple
truth as / see it-that is all: only to
love God and man purely and to seek
the advancement Of every good cause:
to desire the progress Of every
and of every soul in that land:
to have no selfish purpose in my
life or my heart: only to leave behind
every unworthy habit. every form Of
sense qualification. every aspiration
for that which God may give
me. And l do 1t. no one knows how
Never a child ran to his play.
never a lover went to his sweetheart. L
with more JOY than I SO to the simple.
and unrewardcd work
Of the spirit. I can only scatter the
seed. Others may reap tbe harvest.
The Mask Of Man. M
The other day while riding to Trent
tnn tho flicE IF tho u,hnolo. thu Av}uv Il