The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-22
THE OPEN EYES.
Selected for The Times-Dispo

shine out OF darkness hath. shined in
our hearts. to give the light of the
knowiedee OF the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ"
Thus has God made Himself known
to us in sky and earth and sea. and
then. answering the questions which
were yet unanswered, in the face of
Jesus Christ.
Inc summer carries us into the near
presence of ono of these revelations
we know what it brings of satisfac
ton and of bcnediction. Ocean ana
forest lake and hill and river speak
TO us in that intimate language which
has no need of words, declaring the
glory of God and showing the won
ders of His handiwork
At first we are like the PROPHETS
servant, who saw nothing but a valley
and hill and sheep grazing anon.
the rocks: but the day comes when nv
some grace of God our ewes arc onou-
ed. and wo behold the angels which,
"echariah saw amid the trees. and the
hosts OF God arc cncampel along Tho
slopes of the mountains. and in tb.
wind we hear tho voice of the Eternal
and across the lake comes one who
walks upon the water, bringing the
benediction OF peace. and the new b,av
ems and the new earth shine about
us For the new heavens and the now
earth arc here now.
we lose much by our habit of in
difference. We walk with head dow,
pushing our way along, intent unou
our GRAND, and always in a hurry. we
get much done, and some become rich
in those possessions which con,monIv
pass for wealth among us. but we ar.
the poorer for our inattention ana orr
haste; the best blessings of ,ba a.,
are lost.
We may all be rich il we will The
fortunes OF political elections need no,
greatly distress us. The earth is me
Lords. and 1t belongs to all those WHO
belong to Ills family we, His chill.
drcn, have property rights in IT, every
one of us. and may laugh at title-deeds
and fences
Walter Patcr. in his exquisite essay.
The Child OF the House." spcal<s of
these neglected riches And, thinking
of the very poor" he says, 1T was
not the things which most men care
most for that he ycarned to give them
but fairer roses. perhaps, and power
to taste quite as they will, Mt their
ease, and not task burdened. a certain
desirable clear light In the new morn
ing, through which sometimes he had
noticed them, quite unconscious of it.
on their way to their daily toll" That
may seem Il vague and inadequate ben
ediction some might maintain that
Il good breakfast and a rise in wages
We're better. But the more IT is con
sidcred. the more Of value is discov
cred in it. The best ideal is TO be.
rather than to have.
God he doth late and carly pray
More Of His grace than gifts to
lend"
That is the right prayer a song
IN the heart is better than grand
piano in a gilded parlor.
Real riches cannot he counted out
IN coin, neither are they dependent
upon the hap or mshap OF the market.
We arc rich in what we arc; our best
possessions are our experiences. Peo-
pie are troubled because they live in
back streets. but the alley is as near
heaven as the avenue.
II was proved. however. long ago
that natures instructions in religion
are not enough. For we are not sat
ished to know that God is glorious,
or that He is great. or that He is the
maker OF the world. We would come
into some more close and satisfying
acquaintance with Him. We would
know His will, and would learn how lie
would have us order our lives. Above
all. We would be assured OF His in
tcrest in US and OF His love for us
The world is fair, indeed, in summer.
and one may lie out under the trees.
and watch the water or the hills, and
read pleasant hook all the sweet
afternoon. and may get n deal OF salts
faction out OF it. and may imagine that
he is coming very close TO God But,
when the wind blows. and the storms
come. and the waves reach out their
hands; when something tragic happens;
when We are in trouble. and nature
pays no heed; when there are tears in
our eyes. and the birds sing as checrily
as ever in the branches; when death
Is IN the neigh bOrhood. and all the in
dUstries and gaietics Of nature go on
without "A CLEAN Of sympathy--thcn we
perceive that natures gospel is only
for good weather.
Then one remembers how the apple
trees in the spring were white with
blossoms. and how the wind blew most
OF them into the grass; and it seems
10 be natures illustration of our life
The heavens declare the glory of God,
but what good is that to us, when
we want help and light and strong
sympathetic. personal love? Therefore,
God makes another manifestation Of
Himself. that He may answer our un-
answered questions. But how? Shall
God choose ont n man and teach him
Ia. 10 -,