Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-20
Sunday Morning Talk
NEW DEPARTURES IN LIFE.

Habits of the eagle had evidently
 been studied by the writer of the Old
 Testament book of Deuteronomy. He
 had seen the nest built with infinite
 labor and care on some crag overlook
 ing a valley in the mountains. He
 had watched the mother bird rearing
 her young, bringing the birding food
 from far and beating off intruders.
 He had seen the parent finally trying to persuade it's offspring to fly, to try its pinions in the upper air. ~
 The attempt first resulted in failure.
 The nest had been made so warm and comfortable that the eaglet could not
 be induced to leave it. Then came a day when a strange thing happened. The same beak and talons that had provided the nest tore it to pieces. Home was made so positively uncom- fortable that the young bird could not stay in it. He was fairly tipped out his young pinions gather strength and his eyes learn to face the sun.
 1t is a parable said the prophet of the way in which Jehovah tumbles his children about and dislodges them. even Etas an eagle stirreth up her nest and huttereth over her youno."
 For most of us life involves a series of changes from the beginning till the end. We are. thrust out from the home to go to school; we leave school to make a living; we go from one po- sition to another; we change our resi- dence, perhaps half dozen times We know the painful experiences of sick ness and bereavement: we take on re- responsibilities or stagger under losses. No sooner are we comfortably eStab- lished and think to dwell at ease, than the disturbing hand of circumstances come to vex our peace. Life proves to be one thing after another.
 It is hard, especially one passes the middle years of life, to endure such a buffeting about as sometimes becomes ones human portion. We like the permanent and the assured. There is a natural dread of uncertain ty and fear of change.
 Yet, how attractive would life be if it were always precisely the same? If change means sorrow, changless- ness would mean terror and disap- pointment. Life in the heart of China may be as undisturbed as that of a fly in a lump of amber, but we all ex- claim, Better 50 years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay!"
 The ills of monotony should be rec ognized as well as those of instability. The charge the prophet made against a certain people was in respect to their untroubled calm Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath set tied on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel The figure refers to the ancient practise of pouring a liquid from one vessel to another, and thence to another and another, leaving behind at each sue cessive pouring some of the dregs of the sediment until at length the liquid was perfectly pure and clear.
 How many a man has, as 1t were. "settled upon his 1eesi'' He does not wish to be disturbed. He is perfectly content to retain all his moral sedi- 1,1 1Ixy l- f fI7ka shock of change, of adventure, of sac rifice that may rid him of some unde sirable things and gain for him some that are high and true"
 Changes said the wel1-be1oved Scotchman, Ian Maclaren, '-are one of the surest means for bracing and character" If that be true, one should not be so afraid of them. A very superficial philosophy lies be- hind the adage Happy the people that has no history People, that have no history have no real life, for life is only another name for experience. Ex- perience is to be sought and not ssloth- fully evaded.
 Whether we will or no, we mortais are constantly summoned to new de- partures. Sheltered individuals there are who seem exceptions to the rule, | but they will remain exceptions. And even these cannot escape the ultimate | change that awaits all the sons Of men l in the hour when this earthly house is | shaken to its foundations and we fare | forth into the unexplored country of | the soul.
 1t is we'll to cultivate a certain l readiness for so great transition. | They only can view it with equanimity | In whose hearts the changing fortunes | of this present world have inspired l both courage and hope who are able. | therefore. at last to greet the unseen | with a cheer"