Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 177, 7 November 1941, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Wliakatane Ministers' Association)

GUIDANCE

I. walked up the path to <<rßosedale" with my darning bag tucked under my arm. There is no truer test of friendliness and at-Jiome-ness than the knowledge that one is free to drop in any odd time, with the week's darning as an accompaniment.. Mary Malcolm and I were long past the card-leaving stage. A friend, ship built on years of happy fellowship had formed us into a sort of Mutual Admiration Society. Her home had often been as a City of Refuge to me in my disgruntled moments. There I had found "The peace and the contentment That comes upon your soul, The comradeship of other times; That makes the spirit whole." But Mary had her ups and downs, and this Friday afternoon as she answered my knock her eyes were very near to tears, so that she was prevented from seeing as clearly as usual. "Tt's a blue day," she admitted, 'In fact it's navy blue, and I'm glad you came." "What is the trouble now," I enquired as I got to work on Mack's sock. I had encountered this mood before, and was not unduly perturbed. "You'll laugh at me, I, suppose (the smiles were returning). "And tt does sound silly when I put my fears into words-—but I'd better tell you." "You'd better," I agreed. "Well, maybe health has something to do with it, but occasionally I suffer the most awful depression, tmd the question that tortures me is —did we do right to leave our country home and come to town? Hcnw can T be sure this was God's will for us? I am haunted with the fear that I took the wrong path at that particular point." This was familiar ground; we had been over it before. "How long ago< was that?" I asktid innocently. She considered for a minute—"Six years." Then she continued: "It is when the big things in life have to be faced that one realises; all over again how sore is the loss when husband and father is called ,away while the children are little." "Do you think it would have been better for the children if you had remained in the country?" I asked. ■ The answer came without hesitation: "No, it was better for them to come here., They have their work, and all the interests and activities connected with the City Church. They are very happy and contented.'" "Except when you are miserable," t suggested. She laughed softly. "I'm afraid you are right. They are very sympathetic. It is too bad that I should darken any of their days."

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

"Well, why do you?" I demanded. "I don't know. I can't help it. Suppose our being here is not God's will? —that is the thought that torments me, and takes the joy out of life." "Don't you believe in the guidance of God?" I asked. She looked surprised. "I do; very surely I believe that God has a plan for my life, and it is awfully possible for me to mistake the way." "In that case He would be a poor Guide," I reminded her. This was a new thought. It led us to discussing the whole question of divine guidance. It so happened that II had been reading what Miildred, Gable has to say on this in "Spiritual Maturity." And as far as I could remember, I passed on her teaching. "Elvery real Christian leads a guided life—that is to say, he is not only directed in the crisis of life, nor guided in isolated incidents, but lives under divine control all the time. "This condition constitutes the happy, normal, carefree position of the disciple in matters of every-day life." Then we spoke of a mutual friend who had, we agreed, peculiar ideas about guidance. "I pray about everything," she had declared. "I even ask guidance as to whether or not I should go to church." Mildred Cable has something to say about that point, too. "It is safe to say that no leading from God can ever go contrary to the great principles enunciated in His Word. So-called guidance, if it results in neglect of duty, in ignoring the rights of others, or ends in action which brings dishonour on the Name of the Master is no guidance. "When you have definitely asked to be shown the will of God, and sincerely desire to follow it, go qujietly on, confident that you are walking in the way of His will. Should you unintentionally make a mistake, remember that 'when you swerve to right or left you hear a Voice behind you whispering, This is the way, walk here.'" "Your heavenly Father is much more concerned than you are that you should fulfil His purpose. Your whole training is working toward a great end and the early period when you seemed to receive what you asked for quickly and definitely, may pass to make way for deeper and more mature experiences." The clock struck four; I gathered up my work; five pairs from the darning bag were finished. Mary's ironing lay in neat piles on the table. Our hour of fellowship was over, &!nd like many that had gone before, it left us rested and refresh, ed. "What seems to grow fairer to me as life goes by, is the love and peace and tenderness of it . . . the laughter of little children, the friendship of friends, and the cosy talk by the fireside."