Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-05-06
RELIGION AND LIFE
(By REV. A. H. RAPKING)


birthdays are very much like other
days, but this one seems different. 1t
seems different because forty candles
will be on the birthday cake TINS even
ing. | have just lived about half of my
allotted time on earth.
That is seldom thought of me. |
am reminded of an experience l had
last summer at an Epworth League
Institute at Mountain Lake Park. A
minister made plea for life deci-
sions. A number of young men decid-
ed to enter the ministry, several to
become missionaries, while others ded-
icated their lives to part time service.
The experience got hold of ME as l
recalled the day when | laid my life
on the altar of service.
In fact the setting was just right
for this kind of a service. 1t was nine
o'clock on bright clear July morn
ing All about the tabernacle stood
majestic oak, poplar, and elm trees.
God did not seem to be very far away
His witnesses in nature and folks
seemed to be at their best on that
beautiful Sabbath morning. 1t was
Just the kind Of a morning when the
windows of Heaven seem to be ajaf
and when those who are anxious to
know and live the truth can tune in
There were fcur hundred ard fifty
young people present. The minister
had Just preached an excellent sermon.
It was then that wrote the follow
ing in a book was reading Il am
thirty mine. | have lived half of my
life on earth. | have some training,
three boys, a wonderful little girl,
and a dear noble wife. | have won
for myself place in West Virginia
have the confidence of my minister
ial brethren, and Of many Of the lead
ers of the state, and best of all, the
confidence of many people in The state.
l face the future with profound graft
tude because of the faith i have that
Gods care and love fer us will be as
constant and enduring as grapitation,
time, or any lasting factor that | can
imagine. | believe God has a plan for
me and that in His plan and in His
will, | will live the best life and rem
der the greatest possible service"
| have thought Of that experience.
many times since last July. and on
my fortieth birthday it is comforting
to believe that can depend on God
to do His part in the making Of my
life. If fail in making a life worth
while, it will be because [ fail and
not because God will fail to do His
part The business of making a life
worthwhile is a partnership, a COM
radeship, a companionship.
Ii is a partnership with tie forces
of nature. Without these forces we
could not live. Our Creator tucked the
sea, and air full Of these forces. We
mine the coal, and we drill for the oil,
and for the gas, till the soil, cut the
timber, and breathe the life-sustain-
ing air. Tie very roots Of cur being
are in these things even as the roots
Of a growing tree extended into the
earth. Our use Of these forces and our
attitude toward them is one of the
big factors in the making of our lives.
We are to be partners with these for
cas and not enemies. We are to APP
preciate them but not love them. We
are to use them but not to use by
them. We must be DESTROYS of giving
them their proper places lest we make
a crude, sensual selfish life. Even
though the rests of our being be in
these we must look above for light
and leading
The forces of nature are not ends,
only means to an end, and that end
is folks. The forces of nature only
take on significance and meaning as
they are related to folks. And in the
making Of life, folks are another
big factor. We are to be comrades.
This comradeship begins in our homes.
We are helpless and dependent on our
parents and on others for such long
time in order that we might learn
the Significance and meaning Of com
radeship. It is in the home that we
learn to think, love. and will to work
out standards Of right and wrong. We
are introduced to the forces 81 pature,
the comradeship Of folks, and the
spiritual forces either good CT bad.
This comradeship extends 10 the
school, church, community counts,
state, nation, and world. 1t is our re-
lationship with others that either
makes or breaks US. If these relation
ships are right, we become free; if
they are wrong, we become slaves. to