The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-10-05
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There is an old picture of scene in
some city of the Orient, where a
beggar sits beside sunny wall. In
tattered garb he has stationed him
self in this, his accustomed place, to
ask for aims. With cup outreached
to attract attention, and head leaned
comfortably back against the wall,
he sleeps while he waits. A benevo-
lent passer-by thinks to give the
sleeper a happy surprise by a rich
gift. But second pedestrian, catch
ing CLINT of the gold removes the
coin quietly and goes also on his
way. "He cannot lose what he
knows not he had," argues the thief,
in the bit of verse which explains the
picture. So the beggar sleeps on,
unconscious alike of gain or loss,
awakening at last to grumble over
another poor day.
This is picture of a beggar by an
ancient wall, but it is also picture
of life and it's wasted opportunities.
In the educational advantages that
are offered us, in the close relation
ships of our homes, in all our COM
ings and goings among the people
about US, golden coins Of opportunity
for usefulness are offered us, and
we do not see or appreciate them un-
til Delay or Ignorance has stolen
away what Time so graciously be-
slowed. Many person who grumbles
over hard life does not know that
he slept while treasure which woull
have enriched him lay unnoticed with
in his grasp.
The Orient furnishes another fade
less picture-that of a we'll, and be-
side it Traveller. Out from a city
gate came a woman to draw water
as she had done countless times be-
fore. It was the same old well, the
same old task, the same old house
hold drudgery that drove her to it.
The traveller saw opportunity to help,
but at first the woman saw nothing
beyond the common event of a COM
mon day. Perhaps she realized at
the moment no need beyond the
thirst which had brought each to the
well, but the Master offered her a
priceless treasure-the water of life
everlasting. eff thou knowest the
gift of God," he said. If she had but
known, she would have asked and he
would have given, but she talked of
differences of race and petty preju-
dices.
There is no greater moment in any
life than that which it meets Christ,
but like that of the woman of Samar-
la, many soul only argues and
questions and does not understand.
If one talks to such of the Bible they
speculate idly as to how the sacred
writings were first gathered and
combined, and which parts are real
ly historical and which are allegoric-
al. If they are invited to accept the
offer of salvation, they only discuss
creeds and sects-whether in "this
mountain" or Eat Jerusalem" is the
proper place of worship-and fancy
that they are waiting for further en-
lightenment.
Doubt may be sincere, but if it
recognizes the Importance of it's
questioning it does not merely daily
in uncertainty. It is recorded of two
atheists, men of high social and in
tellectual rank, that they planned to
attack the Christian religion in their
writings, but first they very wisely
decided to study from all points the
two Gospel narratives they sought to
disprove-the resurrection of Christ
and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.
They met at the end of the appointed
time, but both of them had become
convinced that Christ did rise from
the dead, and was the Savior of the
world. Both these men found them
selves face to face with living Lord
at the end of their research. They
had come unwittingly upon life's
greatest discovery. Many an offered
gain and blessing we let slip from out
our years by our sloth or blindness,
but life's greatest opportunity-the
meeting of the Master and his offer
of eternal blessedness-is denied to
you.-Exchange