Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 100, 18 August 1944, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakatn

GOD DOES HIS PART—DO YOURS Mrs Kennedy is one of my most valued I'riend.s. Manse folk haA'e many privileges not least are the friends gathered Avith the years. Mrs Kennedy has not reached a ripe old. age, not acquired the serenity of spirit that eomes> Avlien the strain and stress of life is outweighed by the realisation of eternal values. She is young full of the responsibility and care of a growing family inclined perhaps to over-mother the,m, yet the quality that appeals to nie most is her sense of humour and the ability to laugh. Heartily and spontaneously lier laugh rings out. Is there any better tonic on a blue day? "The soul Avithin had so often lighted up her countenance with its own, full happiness and that something of a permanent radiance remained upon it." That exactly describes Elsie Kennedy. But in a busy normal life ? Avith a normal family, it is inevitable, that days come Avlien the laugh is not so spontaneous when skies are overshadowed and the domestic barometer points to dull. As Ave sat over a cup of tea' in her cosy kitchen, Avhere: she had just finished the Aveekly ironing, Elsie spoke of her eldest son. "Student days and student ways are altering Ken " she said. "From his primary school days until noAV, he has consistently read his daily portion of Scripture anil God Avas A'ery real to him. This year he studies late and early; his Bible is and I'm afraid his spiritual life is suffering." "Early habits liaA r e a strong grip," I tried to comfort her. "I don'tkknot"w t " she answered. "The other day when ,1 mentioned his unused he *just laughed in his easy Avay and said: "But I know all that, Mum, I've read it for years." As I hurried home to prepare the evening meal I considered Elsie's problem or .rather Ken's problem, for in such a AAiiat. can a mother do to help? Nagging is no good, neither is pleading. The responsibility rests on the boy himself : mothers can only look leave alone. } and pray. Tea over, I joyfully settled doAvn by the fire to delve into a hcav book } greatly desired which had at last become mine. It is a neAV book, written by Mildred Cable and Franeesca ToAvards Spiritual Maturity. "God does His part—do was the firt sentence I read. So well does this book deal Avitli this question, that I pass on some extracts from its for this is a vital matter to more than, students. Some, of us. can recall eager searching of the Scriptures in our earlier wonderful nearness to God in prayer and a marked growth in our

ne Mi rust ers' Association)

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

Christian experience. With the passing of the years call upon our time have increased until the Quiet Hour has been crowded out. The first section of the book is headed Notes From a Student'.-; Diary. "Last week I heard a most unusual address on the subject, "Arrested Spiritual Development." The speaker made some challenging statements which started, us all thinking and discussing. This is what he said: "Thos.3 three words accurately describe my own condition all through the years of college life. It was a time of strenuous mental and physical activity and I found it hard work to keep up with all that was required of me, yet ? although I was a Christian it. was only in relation to spiritual things that I dared to be and remain satisfied with poor results." This and other things 9 0 which he said, brought it home to me. that my own spiritual life was badly neglected and that there was no likelihood of progress in that direction unless I gave more thought time s and care to its cultivation. Later on the speaker took up liis Bible and read a number of striking passages some of which I had never If noticed before: "Do not cease to cultivate the divine gift. "Till we all arrive at the stature of fullgrown men in Christ ..." "Though you cannot add a cubit to your physical or spiritual stature" the. speaker said, "you can stunt your growth by refusing to your body its lawful demands and essential conditions and many are treating their spiritual nature in this way, with like disastrous results. On the physical and mental planes Ave detect immaturity so but fail even to observet it on the spiritual level." "In a book called The Serious Call William Law described a man who was one of the business magnates of his time. His efficiency was proverbial, and his powers of organisation such that lie improved every department that he handled The only plane on which progress was arrested was the spiritual. lii business he was reckoned brilliant but "his commerce with God Avas positively puerile." If this. clcA'er man was given a book on prayer he would not trouble even to look at it. "I learnt all that when I was a child," lie Avouhl sav and never realise that there is advance toward maturity in spiritual things as avcll as in other realms." "We are all busy people with strict limitations on our spare time but as the speaker emphasised: 'It is just as futile to say that Ave are too busy for physical or mental exercise, as to say it about the. spiritfor to the Christian ■spiritual development is more essential than cultivation of the physical or mental."