Thoughtful Moments OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 59, 24 March 1944, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

WAR TIME THOUGHTS

WHAT FATHER THINKS

LOT of space is taken up in the Press nowadays pointing out the lack of morals of our girls during the war. Of course, it is very apparent that there is much drinking and sex irregularity amongst a certain section of our youngsters. But there is another side, of which insufficient notice has been taken. This was brought home to me this week-end when my daughter, who for the last year has been with the A.T.S., paid home a lleeting visit. She was unable to be with us over the Christmas holidays and was giving us an account of the "wonderful time." she had had. On my asking what she did with hersell on Christmas morning, she told me she went to church. "We all did." I asked her if it was church parade. But she said, "No. We always go- if we cannot get home week-ends. The church was full of A.T.S. and W-A.A.F.'s. It is a lovely church with a very bright service, and always an excellent sermon." Does it not strike one as something really fine that these girls, who showed no enthusiasm for church attendance in civilian life— I believe few of them go to church even when home on leave —are willing and anxious to polish up—to attend* church on Sundays, their only free morning of the week, of their own accord. They dislike church parades, as their fathers did in the last war, but when they find a church service worth attending they go. These girls arc not little saints (f know mine isn't, she's too much like her father for that!), but I dp honestly believe that the vast majority of girls are as these Service girls, decently behaved, clean-living youngsters. Their anxiety to pop home as frequently as they possibly can is a pointer. I was, however, agreeably surprised at the church-going. Let me make it clear that there was no ulterior motive, such as likely invitations to tea. I mentioned that but she said, "No fear! Besides three parts of the congregation were Service girls and quite a number of soldiers. W T c v,*ouldn,'t go to tea if we fcvere asked; we. do all right and like to do what we like." When we get Press reports of church meetings where these girls are maligned, as is so often the case, should we not think of the other side and all the good things of our living probably happening up and down the country—mostly unnoticed. J.H.D. "BOMBS ARE NOT GUIDED, THEY FALL" 1 By the Rev. G. W. Byr'-t. These days set us some nicely intricate problems on the subject of Providence: a subject on Avhich we ought to think very seriously, striving for simplicity and clarity, but last word on the matter can never be said by us. remembering all the. time that the

(Supplied by the Whakatane Miiiist e.rs' Association)

Mistakes ;ivt> ma:!e both by claiming too much and too l.tt'e lor the Providence of Clod. It is important to realise s'raight away that it is not a question <)i what Go.l can do with falling but rather what Me will to do : n accord with His own Goodness, Justice and Love. Confusion, and even bitterness of spirit, are caused by careless statements which give the impression that God's Providence is a Divine Favouritism. Any remark tha! tends to suggest that'bombs fail on the evil and not 011 the good, on the guilt}' and not 011 the innocent, on those who stay away from church and not on those who go on those who do not pray and not on those who do, all these are manifestly false. (And in our best moments we are glad that they arc false.) Such remarks deny the truth of our Lord's statement that God's goodness is Impartial, as impartial as the rain and the sun-; shine; and we must .strenuously avoid thinking or speaking in such a way as to do that. At the same lime it is surely natural and right that many of us having had very narrow escapes feel moved to lilt up our hearts in gratitude to God for our deliverance. We should violate deep feelings of thankfulness if we did not do so. We are thankful For Thy providence that governs Through Thine empire's wide domain, Wings and angel, guides a sparrow; Blessed be Thy gentle reign. We rejoice in the providence which impartially surrounds all God's creatures, and which the Christian knowingly accepts and trusts and in which he consciously participates and lives. He consciously participates in it remembering all the time that within that providence he himself may be called upon to suffer as others suffer in this sin-stricken world, and that if the cup of suffering comes to him the resources of God in Christ are available to help him to drink it patiently and courageously. Our Lord Himself also suffered. THY WORKS SHALL ENDURE Only a snowdrop bending irn the breeze, Pure as the morning rising at her ease; Can Hitler make a weapon half so strong? Bursting through mould and grit, hard-bound so long. Only a crocus standing in the shade, Straight and erect, like soldier on parade; Can tools turn out so delicate a thing? Bravely she tells the coming of the Spring. Nothing can take from us these gifts so good; Earth may be. rent and scourged with fire and blood, — Somewhere the blades of tulips shyly peep, Somewhere a daisy yawns, and wakes from sleep.