Evening star., 1960-03-27
SPIRES OF The SPIRIT
The Kindly Light
BY FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS. DID.
Chaplain Of the United States senate

AAtpt c1SiFc ueco OF any LIE.
On the pilgrimage from the
cradle to the grave the most
terrible experience is not in
any catastrophe one may en-
counter, but in the devas-
tating feeling that one is
alone. One can stand any,
thing If he has the assurance
that he is not the victim of
a blind. purpoSeless universe,
but, rather, is in the keeping
Of the Infinite One of whom
1t can be said, "He holds the
whole world in His hand"
That is the triumphant GER
tainty expressed in Brown
ing's great lines: He guides
me and the birds-I shall
arrive"
The horror Of the bleach
ing bones recently found on
the sand-swept waste Of the
Sahara is that they tell Of
q group Of Americans in
World War II who. when
their plane was forced down
there, perished because they
had nothing to guide them
to any haven Of salvation. If
Divine guidance is q reality,
then prayer is infinitely more
than just talking to oneself.
1t means that to the human
cry there is an answer.
Once, in London, I went to
hear a preacher in a little
chapel. I listened with scant
expectancy. The man who
spoke had no reputation as
a pulpit giant. Yet, across
these many years, I have
thought often about the
opening sentence Of his mes
sage. His text was: Knock,
and it shall be opened unto
you" After an effective
pause he said simply, yet
profoundly: Then, there
must be somebody on the
other side of the door,"
There is-somebody on the
other side Of the door when
with full purpose Of heart,
fulfilling the conditions, we
knock asking for guidance.
The proper observance of
Lent has to do largely with
this vital matter Of guidance
which means listening to
the voice which is heard when
that other opens the door
from the inside. The one
thing to be sure Of is that
we really knock. That is
usually done to greatest ad-
vantage in the silence. That
condition, alas, has been
almost eliminated in our
rushing, noisy, modern life.
There Is a world of truth in
that insight of Scripture
which declares. God was not
in the whirlwind, nor in the
earthquake, but in the still
small voice" Here. vividly
stated, is a truth Of the ages.
The first rule Of Lent, II
guidance is to be a victorious
and glorious reality, is to
provide some time, some
where, in every day q zone Of
Quietness. 1t Is always there,
in such q fenced-in inclosure,
that there Is to be found q
spiritual telephone which
ties one to a realm glimpsed
in the Divine promise-"If
with all your heart you truly
seek me, you shall surely find
me-"
John Henry Newman's cry
amid the encircling gloom Of
his own perplexity, Lead,
Kindly Light" is the poign-
ant prayer Of every pilgrim
cropping along an unknown
way. That famous preacher
little thought that his an
guished petition written on
q tossing ship during q
stormy voyage-"Leau Thou
me on"-would come to be
treasured by untold thou
sands whose lives, like his,
have been hedged about the
Interrogation marks. He lived
to a ripe old age. always
with a keen sense Of the
guidance Of the kindly light.
In his famous lines he con-
fesses that not always had
he sought Divine guidance
for the steps ahead, but. with
pride ruling his heart,
''loved to choose and see my
path; but now, lead Thou
me on!"
An outstanding citizen
about to be sworn in as he
assumed a high post Of gov
ernment service received
from a good friend a gra-
cious letter of congratulation.
In reply he penned words
more golden than gold. He
said: "I am indeed humble
when I realize the weight
of responsibility that comes
with the Office to which I
have been elected. All I can