Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-02-28
Meanderings OF A Mildly
Militant Mind
Smoked Glass And Clear Vision.

During the total eclipse of the SUM-
on the morning of January the Oath,
l found that an attempt to see the
shadow of the moon with the naked
eye was futile; the brilliancy of Old
Sol, as I looked directly into his face,
blinded me. But when I placed a
piece of smoked glass before my eyes
and looked again, the phenomenon
was clearly visible, and observing it's
swiftly changing aspects an unalloy-
ed pleasure.
After the marvellous spectacle pass
cd and unobstructed rays of sunshine
frightened the day anew, l returned
to the daily routine with a vague
sense of having learned a lesson; and
as the golden beams of light warmly
kissed the frost-clad earth, something
whispered, Smoked glass, you see,
has a mission"
Then, suddenly, the lesson stood
cut clear and plain, it's application to
life and it's living definitely under
stood. "How unreasoning the impa-
tience of humanity" ran my thoughts.
owe want to look straight into the
face of the sun. But we can't. And
blinded by our willful attempts, we
decry the decree of Providence and
bcmoan the means by which our Gre
ator tempers the sublime light of rev.
elation."
Isn't it true that we are over-eager
for results, too anxious to obtain a
wards?
We want wisdom, but we are I'M
willing to submit to the experiences
which bring it. We want to see, to
know, to understand. Right now! We
don't want to wait. Gradual gains are
not enough. We are hurried and
worried.
And our impotence impedes our
progress. BY our own mental and
spiritual attitude, We delay that which
we desire. For, while we walk the
way of mortality, our vision must of
necessity be clarified by a modified
light. We are not ready for the eff
fulgence of that glory which the spir-
it, unhampered by the flesh, may
know.
Every human experience has it's
bearing on he process of the souls
development; but am inclined to
think the factor which counts most in
acquiring vision-without which we
can not go far-is that which we
naturally shun, that is suffering.
We strive for happiness. And that
is right. We need it. Smiles, song,
satisfaction and success have their
place in the great plan of life. Never
to feel the thrill of joy in our hearts
would dwarf the spirit. Sunshine,
too, feeds the soul.
But, as the years pass, we come to
know that the sunlight which is born
Of heaven and shines throughout e.
-ternity is that which shines through
the clouds of adversely.
The abundant life" is not all joy.
1t must have it's measure Of struggle
and WEAKNESS, loneliness and loss,
parting and pain, sickness and death,
remuneration and sadness, discourage
ment and disappointment, misunder-
standing and being misunderstood.
Dark experiences, everyone. Things
against which the majority of us re-
bel. And yet
Through them, we come to know
the best that life holds.
Through them, we gain knowledge
of values, and wisdom to choose that
which is worth while.
Through them, we sift the chat
from the wheat, and garner harvest
which nothing can destroy.
Still, we want to look straight into
the face of the sun! But we can't
Supreme Wisdom orda IS the use Of
smoked glass, the shadow of tribula
ton through which discernmen
comes. And we shall find, if we are
patient and prayerful, that ours will
be a clearer vision because of the
trials through which we pass.
EDNA BENTLEY HANCOCK