Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 64, 13 April 1945, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakat

GUIDANCE I walked up the path to "Rosedale" with my darning bag tucked under my arm. There is no truer test of friendliness and at-home-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 friendship built on years of happy fellowship had formed us into a short 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 Avere yery near to tears so that she was prevented from seeing as clearly as usual. "It's a blue day," she admitted. "In fact it's navy blue, and I'm glad you qame." "What is the trouble now," I enquired as I got to work 011 Mack's sock. 1 had encountered this mood before and was not unduly perturbed. "Vou'll laugh at me I suppose (the smiles were returning). "And it does sound silly when I put my fears, into words.—hut. 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 and the question that tortures me is—did Ave do right to leave our country home and come to How can I 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 asked innocently.

Hhe 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 tl?e 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 countrj r ?" I asked. The answer came without hesitation: "No it was better for them J 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," F. 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." why do you?" 1 demanded. "I don't know. I can't help it. Sup.

fife Ministers' Association).

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

pose 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 (Sod?" 1 asked. She looked surprised. "I do; very surely I believe that Gotl 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 I had been reading what Mildred Cable has to say 011 this in "Spiritual Maturity." And as far as I could remember, I passed on her teaching. "Every real Christian leads a guided life—that is to say a he is not only directed in the crisis of lil'e > nor guided in isolated incidents, but lives, under divine control ;dl 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," sh e 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 110 leading from God can ever go contrary to the great principles enunciated in His. Word. So-called 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 ot' God, and sincerely desire to follow i go quiet, ly on, confident that you are walk, ing in the way of His, will. Should you unintentionally make a mistake,, deniember that 'when you swerve to rfght 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. You,r 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, and like many that had gone before, it left us rested and refreshed.

"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 j and the cosy talk by the fireside."

(Contributed by a Minister's wife).