Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-03-25
RELIGION AND LIFE
By
Rev. A. H. Rapking

| find myself seated in a comfortable
chair in front of glowing CRATE
fire The thermometer was right
around fifteen above this morning. A
strong gale blew all day yesterday
and last night, and now l can hear
! the shrill whistle of the wind around
the corners of house and see the
! branches of the trees swaying back
and forth in the yard. Occasionally
the sun peeps through the clouds
that are moving along leisurely.
Over on the ridge nearby there is
a thrifty apple orchard. The trees
are in straight rows. This orchard
is the expression both of the vision
and foresight of Mr.. Schneider who
planted it eighteen years ago and the
laws and forces of nature. l have
been enjoying the apples produced BY
the cooperation of this man and ma
ture and the Creator who is back of
both
| cannot tell how much of his per-
sonality was transferred into the ap-
pies, or just what part was taken out
of the soil, or what part the sun and
air played in producing these excel
lent Rome beauties, but | do know
that they taste delicious. Talk about
miracles being out Of date4 WIZ
the truth is that there are miracles
ali about US. On a pedestal nearby
in the corner Of the room, there is
an inch cactus on which there are
several beautiful dark red flowers.
To the thoughtful person these
flowers preach very effective ser
mon. For who can fathom the mys-
shape Of the flower? What a story
it that determines the color and
shape of the FODDER? What a story
they could tell if they could give a
history of their growth and develop
ment
Mr.. Schneider and the orchard out
yonder are inseparable. He planted
the trees and cultivated them; he has
/ pruned and sprayed them. He pick
ed and sold apples. His energy in
cooperation with nature produced the
money with which he pays his taxes,
buys his clothes, and contributes to
! the establishment Of the Kingdom of
, God on earth.
And it is so; man wills that nature
should work for him. He has faith
in the forces Of nature; he tilIs the
soil; he plants the seed, and after
having given of his life he in return
. receives from nature that which sus-
tains life. By giving Of his life to
nature she in return gives to him
food, clothing and shelter.
In a way that We do not fully I'M
derstand now, nature seems to APP
preciate kindness and good WILL and
she seems to be glad for an oppor-
tunity Of being our servant. The
woods on yonder hill seem to say, a
have grown for you; come and sit
beneath me in the cool of the even
ing or the heat Of the day, and listen
to my Creator Or if you need me,
will gladly give my life that you
may be sheltered from the storms.
| am here to do your bidding, only
do not waste and destroy me for |
am here to help make your life"
Thus it is that the hills, mount
nIairc thu CIV
oceans, are tucked full of life and
ever ready to obey the intelligent
command Of man. If man commands
the forces of nature intelligently
and with sympathy, she builds him.
But if be wastes these forces and de-
stroys them so that they cannot min
ister to his higher life, he dwarfs his
spiritual capacities. 1t is an evident
fact that the forces of nature want
to be respected and that the folks
who do not respect them suffer.
Those who have the right attitude
toward nature will often see burn
bushes and feel that they are tread
ing on holy ground. They will come
to understand better with the adj
vancing years that back of natures
forces is good, true and just Gre
j ator. They will realize that the
coal, oil and gas, the timber, the fer
tility of the soil, the sun, wind, air
and water are flu of energy and life,
ready and anxiol; 70 minister to the
needs of men and in man become
kind sympathetic, intelligent direct
ors of natures forces and thus move
! upward toward the plane on which
] God lives. Mature comes to her own
by way of man, and man comes to
realize his highest and noblest
dreams by the right attitude toward
nature in cooperation with the Gre
ator.
This cooperation helps to develop