Evening star., 1960-01-17
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
Letting the Lord Down
By DR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States

There is no more poignant
regret than the accusing &C
cusation that we have dis
appointed someone's expec-
tations of us. We have proved
to be less than the high esti-
mate which someone's faith
had put upon us. Feet of
clay perhaps have showed in
an image which somebody
else had thought was all
silver and gold. It is a cons
ciousness which clothes the
spirit in sackcloth and ashes
when by some act or failure
to act we have let somebody
down. But betraying other
peoples confidence in us not
only changes our stature in
their eyes; it makes one of
sensitive spirit Of all men
most miserable. He is asham-
ed of himself who falls short
Of his best. When one sells
his principles for any tenn
porary mess of pottage he
loathes the bargain he has
made by thus selling his soul
to the Devil.
1t is recorded that a re-
spected old Edinburgh weaver
habitually included one petit
ton in any prayer he offered
in the kirk: "Oh God, help
me to hold a high opinion of
myself" Well has it been
said by one who has a vast
acquaintance with the great
souls of the centuries: Every
admirable character in his
tory can be interpreted in
terms Of lofty self respect"
They had a high opinion of
themselves. That is not van
ity. 1t is the purest form of
humility.
Millet, the French artist
who gave us the "Angelus,"
depicted peasants in the field
at twilight listening to dis
tant bells-standing in rev.
erence saluting the highest
that was in them. At his
wedding dinner the artist
was addressed by his grand
mother, who said to him:
Remember, my Francois,
that you are a Christian be-
fore you are a painter. Never
sacrifice on the altar of
Baal." And Millet's answer
was coined out of the high
opinion he had Of himself.
He declares: Even if they
cover the canvas with gold
and ask me to paint a st.
Francis possessed by the
Devil, I will promise you
never to consent" That was
a solemn VOW not only to
refuse to let the saint down,
but to refuse ever to let
himself down.
The possible best is kept
FURNISHED and bright by the
constant remembrance of
what someone who is a part
Of our lifes expects. Such
are counting on us and we
dare not let them down. How
many a student, tempted to
waste precious opportunities
by listening to the seductive
thieves of time, has main
tained his birthright because
of parents who have mingled
sacrifice with confident ex-
pectations. Those eyes of
love from the home in which
he has been reared are a
searching incentive to be
loyal to the royal in himself.
The hymn many Of us used
to sing in other days is NOV
ingly suggestive:
! Mould be true, for there are
those iDho trust me;
l mould be pure. for there are
those Dho care.
Hamilton Mabie expresses
a very deep insight when he
says: "The highest ministry
Of love is in its noble COM
pulsion to do and seek the
best. The wisdom Of love is
shown in its exactions rather
than in its indulgencies." All
that is saying that loves
truest exhortation is Don't
let yourself down"
One Of the most striking
stories Of the New Testa-
ment is about a man called
Peter who in a supreme mo-
ment Of testing let himself
down and let his Master