Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-04-22
RELIGION AND LIFE
BY
Rev. A. H. Rapking
AeNNs - 80 AhH kNAttS
a ! a n L

Out in the yard near my study
window robin is seeking food. Just
now he ate some kind of worm or
a bug. He looks so contented and
happy. l am wondering just how he
feels and what his outlook on life
is. Does he have any cares, or is
he carefree? Where did he spend the
winter, and what brought him here
to spend the spring and summer with
US? Where will he with his mate
build his nest? What will determine
the place for the building of the
nest? Why does he build his nest
as he does? Is it because his parents
taught him so?
What development, if any, takes
place in his life as he cares for his
mate as she hovers over her eggs
How does he feel as he sees his off
spring appear in the nest?
What is his real mission in the
world? What satisfactions does he
get out of life? Where will he go
next fall and how long will he live
These and other questions flash
through my mind as ! watch the
robin hop about on my lawn.
The buds on the aavlcsee tree
twenty feet from me on the lawn
are making their appearance. The
silent forces of nature are making
themselves felt. The blossoms will
appear, and in due time the fruit will
mature. | suppose the robins will
eat more of the fruit than | will
Nevertheless | am glad the tree is in
my yard 1t links me up in a peculiar
way with my boyhood years. For
there was a service tree near the
barn which seldom failed to yeald
the first fresh fruit of the season.
And the eating Of this fruit was
always a great pleasure to me. | am
wondering now weather or not that
sarfass tree will produce fruit this
spring, Why, | could afford to drive
hundred milees on good roads if
| might pick good mess Of sarfass
from that tree.
have kindly feeling toward
that tree because that tree had an
influence for good ON my life. To
me trees are not just trees. While
do not know a great deal about
them, they in their own way speak
to me. Many times has a tall sturdy
oak or elm been a great inspiration
to me.
Just this morning the boys dug out
an old apple tree which used to stand
near the kitchen window. When the
suggestions We're made that they
tape the tree out you should have
seen their eyes dance In fact, the
suggestions almost interfered greatly
with our family worship. We had
hardly said "Amen" before they had
made be-line for the axe and mat
took. 1t was interesting to watch the
boys dig out the tree which is twelve
inches ip diameter. The tree is gone.
There is more light in the kitchen
and dining room. Mrs. Rapking is
better satisfied, but | have a sort of
lonely feeling just as though a real
good friend had slipped away from
me.
"But what do trees and birds have
to do with religion and life ?" l can
hear you say. They help to educate
US if we want to know the truth a.
bout life. The ten cents that we
spend month for suet which is fast
ened to the cherrytree in the back
yard is spent better than any ten
cents we spent during the month.
For this little investment brings
many birds to our backyard. Elk
carnations like this are almost
everyday occurrences at our house,
"Oh, look at the pretty Bird" Then
That which interests us influences
us weather it be good or evil.
Interest in birds and trees furnish
food for thought and meditation; in
fact, they are windows that open up
into the great world of truth and
joy. Nature can be a real companion
and friend: she helps to keep alive
the sense of wonder She helps to
cultivate the art of approaching the
good, the true and the beautiful in
life. The student of nature becomes
fascinated as he pursues his studies.
'"To him who in the love of nature
holds communion with her visiabla
forms she speaks various language
The message of springtime is that
of hope, of summer growth and de
velopment of Autumn harvest, and
in the winter man cuddles up close