Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-04-08

"COnSlder the llllcS, uOW Lucy /
vrow." This divine injunction means
that we are not simply to look at
them admiringly, but to look into
them, expend thought upon them and
EXPLORE their spiritual meanings.
The lily in it's beginning Is a very
unpromising plant. 1t starts from an
ugly bulb, in size and shape like an
onion. Treasured in it's bulbs Is a re-
serve of nutriment. It's root is in it. !
self.
It can grow in hard places. So the
best people, who have the real stuff
md stamina in them, will bloom on in
he world though not set in an Eden
garden.
The lilies of the field are not idle;
they grow and grow in trustful grace.
They trustfully lay hold of the sun
and air. The nourishment Of the soil
spreads about their roots and the
gentle night mist brought upon the
wings of Gods winds wrap them with
coolness and refreshment.
These lilies trustfully lay hold of
these things and grow and so fulfill
the meaning of their lives. The Mas
ter's argument is this: What does
not belong to the lilies belongs to us.
The lily's mission is to stand still and
grow. To us it is given to fill our
lives with industry. There is no COM
fort for idleness here.
Babies, sick and infirm persons
may live as the lilies do and be cared
for as they are, but hearty people,
with active brains and strong hands,
will be poorly cared for if they live
the lily's way.
The lilies are satisfied with the
place in which God has put them.
Though there are flowers out in the
middle of the garden, the lilies do
not fret at their lot. Though some
are larger, the lily is satisfied with
oelrg a little plant that can grow in
the shade and, though the roses have
their marvellous red, the lily is salts
aed Wit the pure white. And so we
nave another lesson the lily teaches
Don't worry.
lie was a wise traveller, who, when
Ills morse died, said: well, l must
walk noW,' and trudged on cheer
,ully' "et a great many people would
uave sat down beside the dead horse
anu spent days in bemoaning their
oss' sadness units us for duty
"esret never restores what has teer
'aKen away. James Whitcomb Rile,
S"eetly sings:
vi neart of mine, we shouldn't
wh.. Worry so.
'A" we've missed of calm we couldn'
What Have, you know.
W. WV OF sorrows driving rain.
We can better meet again.
If it blow.
We nave erred in that dark hour
Wben We have known:
- 0ur tears tel with the shower,
A MeIe not shine and shadow blent
Let we m gracious Master meants
10 temper our content
A.. With His own.
our worst misfortunes nevor hoe.1
s iney exist only in a diseased i'm
ono Dalion' 1t is easy to see tbroug]
pieca p'ne OF glass, but through tie,
canns paced n on the other ~
each ,oI see. This does not prove tha
W. one is not transparent. nor ar
tb,s s0iled upon to look through ~
~ one at a time.
D,aoae lilies love to grow in retire,
You - stay in the ackground
elua, Will find them all alone in ths &c
VIII WIZ OF their shady retreat.
bes mnen the lily grows it hanes -
Self ssao as though it wanted to n hids IL II
have qna when its beautiful flower
hans reached their full growth tho
th nas their heads as if ashanod tne =
haa beauty, and felt as though the =
t tho n nothing to be proud rl' of the e
atti tsn God had meant the form On
ni litU Of this flower to teach rs 1 h,
, Which ! low, sweet root fro,
, Tho al III heavenly virtues shoot.
, sen aGf Niles of the field grow castin
tbens ehaht shadow; the create sronn
and oy the shadow of their 1eav.
. Which ''ossoms and by the moistn,
able f. sney attract, conditions sui
less nc Tor the growth Of other n, su'
. ''S richly endowed. 0'nef plan