Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 23, 10 November 1944, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakatnne Ministers' Association}.

HATS OFF TO BLIND BIBLE WOMAN The American Presbyterian Mission in Egypt is- doing some very significant work in that, ancient land. It has a university schools, for girls and for bo 3-s t a model farm and has built a model village. Its hospital at Assiut has come to be known by many New Zealanders. Padre Colin McKenzie wrote some, articles about th'is aspect of their work, with reference also to the out-patient department where the lepers come for treatment. It would be hard to oraise too highly the gracious, wholehearted hospitality of those Americans at. this station. or ? for that at any station where, we met them. I am indebted to them for much • and not the least for affording me the privilege of meeting the Blind Bible,woman. She works amongst the patients of the hospital—a three-storeyed building without any lift that I can so that there is 110 simplifying of the. business of getting round the wards. When- this lady, an Egyptian was but a girl, blindness overtook her ond when I saw her there were not even sightless eyes to give expression to the face. Egyptians have great powers for memory and this was a godsend to her and she was able to make her own treasures of the Gospel story. Passing 3 r ear.s brought to her the added affliction of arthritis which malformed her hands and crippled her fee.t. She could just shuffle along—many Furopeans would have, become cot-cases for less—but at this rate of progress she moved round the beds speaking a good word for her Master. I can remember few faces so radiant as her's—even without eyes—and few voices so cheerful a little chuckle a came, into her speech and she made me think of comfortable old grannies of our favoured Christian lands to whom age had come graciously. After an early morning when I had the opportunity to spealc through an interpreter to asse.mbledup patients and free members of staff, she sat on a seat at the chapel door and talked with me. The missionaries had told me of her schooling in pain and her courage in mastering it ( so I mentioned something of this to her: "Yes" she said—and the chuckle was in her voice as she. spoke—"Yes the pain has been. somei'iyie.s very bad but I think about Jesus and forget t.he pain.''

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

TO THE KEEPER OF GOD'S BED I didn't meet the subject, of this salute—l'd have counted it a high privilege to 'have done so. They told me, about this servant of God in Capetown four years- ago wiien two- long voyages were relieved by two very pleasant visits to that hospitable town that shelters at the foot of Table Mountain. Even a br'-ef visit gave one glimpse into the problem that this sister Dominion knows in its "black and white and coloured elements of population. The solution of the problem is in Christ and in those Avho share His spirit. This story supports that belief. A native woman who needed it 3 -SUUJ} V, opmu M *UOT}T3AII3S pullOJ format ion in her lil'c. A change seldom to be se.cn> in our more sheltered circumstances. She devoted her life to the work of helping the erring and the fallen especially tending to the helpless babes of betrayed or abandoned girls. At police courts and at prison gates she rendered all the. service that love found possible, and gradually her humble home came to be a young orphanage. Cots were everywnerc my informant told me. Every room was used find in time Christian folk of other colours. came to know of the work and to be, challanged by it. Many of them were proud to help and the cots increased. But one room was not crowded: it had only one bed in it. The keeper called it "God's bed." In the authentic spirit of the Good Shepherd Who sought the lost sheep until He found it, she was- wont to go out, through the. darkness and hazard of night seeking the lost ones too. No danger or difficulty ever served to dissuade her. If in her quest she came on some wretched forsaken homeless one ' *9 then this keeper took her very tenderly to her home, ministered to her need and brought her to tlie, refuge and comfort of "God's bed." And when you've lifted your hat may the "Inasmuch" of Christ ring prevailingly in your ears. THE UPWARD ROAD I will follow the upward road today ? I will keep my face to the. light I will think high thoughts as I go my way I will do what I know is right. I will seek for the flowers by the side of the road I will laugh, and love and be strong; I will try to lighten another's load # this day as I fare along.