The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-07-03
Sowing and Reaping


sows pansy seeds in garden, one
does not expect chrysanthemums 10
appear. Rather does one watcn
eagerly for the first green OF the
pansy plant to push it's way through
the earth, already yisioning the vel
vety flowers to follow. If, on the other
hand, weeds are allowed to grow IN
a garden, what can be expected put
a growth of weeds. Therefore, wise
gardener is careful in his sowing and
watchful in his wedding.
In Deuteronomy, Moses is recorded
as saying (22:9), Thou shalt not
SOW thy vineyard with divers seeds:
lest the fruit of thy seed which thou
hast sown, and the fruit of thy vine
yard, be defiled." Even if one is care
full in ones selection of seeds, with
the first appearance of the DANNY
plants may come the harmful weeds'
Anyone who has done much garden
ing knows how aggressively the
weeds strive to Guido the plants, ana
what alertness is required to see that
the wedding keeps pace with the
eager pushing forward of the desired
plants.
Mary Baker Eddy writes in Mis-
cellaneous Writings" (p. 343), 1.-THE
weeds of mortal mind are not always
destroyed by the first uprootlng;
they reappear, like devastating witch
grass, to choke the coming clover.
How we all dislike to see weed
clogged, overgrown garden! And we
realize the work involved before all
devastating weeds are cleared out;
for, from the time of ripening, their
seeds have not only been re-seeding
their immediate vicinity, but have
also been blowing hither and yon TO
interfere with the neighbors gar
dens. Occasionally, if the weeds are
rank on the adjoining property, the
one whose garden is clear may be
tempted to be annoyed. and even TO
feel that punishment should come to
those responsible for letting the
weeds scatter their seeds. But I'M
mediately comes the realization that
If any weeds have been left in ones
own garden, they may be blowing
over the fence to someone else's
flower bed. The wise plan is to keep
up ones own wedding, and then
guard in every way against the pos
sible encroachment of weeds from
without. Sometimes the weeds are
so nearly like the plant or flower that
one fails to recognize them at first
glance, and care is required not TO
pull up the plant.
If we liken the seeds in our gar
dens to the mental qualities that we
encounter in our everyday expert
ence, we find hypocrisy claiming 10
be almost identical with the lovely
flower of conservation. Deceit and
dishonesty, envy and jealousy are
poisonous if one lets them in, as also
are apathy and Indifference. The
noxious weeds of revenge and retail
iation, and the rank growth of ha-
tired would kill whatever comes with
In their range. So, we must be ever
watchful that we pull up the rank
growth of mortal mind in order that
the lovely flowers of unseldshness,
happiness, fidelity, cooperation,
unity, and peace may not be crowded
out. AS are our individual mental
gardens, so are the mental gardens
of the nations and of the whole
world affected. What joy will. come
when all mankind learns this glori-
Gus lesson of right thinking!
Sometimes, as one sees error
Haunting itself in the world around
us, evil may appear to become more
firmly entrenched, and one is tempt
ed to believe that power lies in erro-
neous thinking; but what error sows
will be reaped in tears. Evil at
tempts to plant what ends in remorse
which only the truth can wipe out,
Why waste a moment worrying for
fear error should have its own way?
Why ever be tempted to want to
avenge wrong? If one has been
sowing forgiveness all the time, he
will soon be reaping such gardens OF
loneliness that only compassion can
be felt for the blindness of those
who would not see. Mrs. Eddy writes
in miscellaneous Writings" Up.
228), "To know that a deception
dark as it is base has been practised
upon thee,-by those deemed at least
indebted friends whose welfare thou
hast promoted,-and yet not to
avenge myself, is to do good to thy
self"
There are no flowers so lovely as
the mental-fowers which grow in a
garden of gratitude and forgiveness.
When one can actually send forth
love and can desire to see another
who has injured him go forward the
very founts of love are Embossed for
him. -.
What wonderful things will hap
pen among nations and peoples when
they can sow and reap in this. worth
while way; when individuals and ma
lions learn to watch for and dispose
of the unlovely weeds that fringe the
highways and byways of international
cooperation, and work together for
the good of all World peace will
then be assured, and hideous, re-
vengeful war. with all its terrors, will
disappear into nothingness. Let US
SOW the lovely things o. God, that we
may reap them.-The Christian Sci
ence MOa5tOr