Evening star., 1940-08-10

iOfSi D, ID VIC no - -S'
signed Sunday school lesson for to-
day. It's opening lines are among
the most familiar in literature:
"The heavens declare the glory
of God;
And the armament showeth His
handiWork."
1t somewhat rebukeS our pride in
our modern literature that this lofty
poem was written in the long-ago,
far-of days OF human history.
Poets are plentiful nowadays, but
none of them has matched this i'm
mortal utterance. Indeed, we are
constrained to contrast the trivial
themes of our petty modern verse
with the sublime simplicity of the
Psalms and their majestic treat
ment of God, nature and man. No
wonder these ancient poems are
the daily comfort of millions of de-
vout men and women.
In a period of panic, such as the
present, when the whole world is
Woe-begone, it makes for strength
and serenity to view afreSh the
dauntleSS processes of nature. A
few days ago, stunned by the radios
reports from Europe, sat working
in front of the fireplace in our
Canadian log cabin, subconsciously
resentful of unreasonable weather.
My writing would not march" I
was in no mood to counsel my fellow
men. So laid aside pen and paper
and went out onto the rocks, amid
the pines where the lake shimmered
before me. I mused upon the
changeless march of nature amidst
all human vicissitudes. Here were
the old, simple things that last
the sky, the sun, the rocks, the
woods, the waters. God has not
gone out of business, despite all of
mans wayWardness and folly. In
the mood of the nineteenth Psalm
returned to my work, with Shoul-
ders squared and spirit uplitted.
1t is good practical advice for all
of us, amidst these days of crashing
nations and of triumphant pagan
ism, simply to get out of doors, to
be taught by the eternal simplic-
tiles of nature. We are reading too
much in the newspapers and maga-
zines, and listening too often to the
radio. Our nerves are tangled, our
steadiness of soul is shaken and our
faith is clouded. So let us get away
from people for time, to be alone
with the Eternal and His handiwork.
A Bigger Idea of God.
Lawrence of Arabia told me the
story, which he later published, and
which has been widely quoted, of
conversation that he once had with
an Arab companion, as they rode
camels by night across the desert.
The brilliant stars prompted him to
inform his untutored companion of
the discoveries of modern astron-
omy. The Arab listened with atten-
ton until Lawrence was through.
Then he replied, in simple conf
dence:
Eyes it is true. The foreigner
looks through his wonder-glasses
and beholds millions of stars. And
that is all. He is proud of his
knowledge. But the Arab looks up
and sees, you say, only few stars.
But behind the stars he sees God"
That is the gift of eyes that makes
the Arab content and that made
the Psalmist great. Beyond the Gre
alton he beholds the Creator
Stretching past the effect, he sees
the Cause. In natures works he
finds natures God. In that simple
faith the Arabs have outlasted all
the proud empires of history. They
are a God-conscious, and therefore
an undefeatable people.
We think their religion imperfect
and inadequate. But at least it is
founded upon and encompassed by
great idea of God. And as is
peoples faith in God, so will its
strength be. Already we are seeing
one supreme benefit of the present
holocaust; it is turning mankind in
desperation back to the God of our
fathers. We hear of great gather
ings for prayer in many places.
Church attendance everywhere has
suddenly increased. Religious Itera-
ture enjoys a new vogue. The Bible
is being read as never before in
living memory. All the world is
searching for God. LIES level is
being lifted. People now scorn the
petty, distorted themes and pursuits
that recently engaged them.
Linking Law and Life.
After his sublime tribute to ma
ture, the Psalnist turns to that
other great wonder, the Law of God
He links the two as eternal verities
The Creator has not left His plans
for man to be discovered by the in