| The Glory of the Common Life |
Chapter 2 |
Page 5 |
“The clouds which rise with thunder slake
Our thirsty souls with rain;
They blow most dreaded falls to break
From off our limbs a chain;
And wrongs of man to man but make
The love of God more plain,
As through the shadowy lens of even
The eye looks farthest into heaven
On gleams of star and depths of blue
The glaring sunshine never knew.
When we think thus of troubles, as bearers of God’s best blessings to us, they begin to wear a benigner aspect to our thought. They come not to us lawlessly, breaking into our life with their loss, anguish, and terror, without God’s permission. They do not come laden with hurt and marring for us. They come as God’s servants, and they bear in their hands divine blessings. They come not as avenging messengers to inflict punishment, but as angels of love to chasten us, mayhap to cure us of follies and sins, to lead us nearer to God, to bring out in us more beauty of Christ. No trouble of any kind ever comes to us but it brings us something that will be a blessing to us if only we will accept it.
But we must receive these divine messengers reverently, with hospitable welcome, as of old men received and entertained angels who came to their doors. Too often sorrow’s gifts are not accepted, the messengers are not welcomed, and they can only turn and bear away again the blessing which they had brought in love, but which we would not take.
It is a serious thing to have troubles come to us and not be graciously welcomed by us. We turn Christ Himself from our doors when we refuse to admit what He sends to us, though it be a sorrow or a loss. We thrust away heavenly treasures, shutting our heart against them. The only true way to deal with trouble is to open our door to it as coming from God on an errand of love, its hands filled with priceless gifts for our true enriching.
Page 5
<< Prior Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page >>