Part 10 (2/2)
In one of her exquisite poems Frances Ridley Havergal tells of a friend who was given an aeolian harp which, she was told, sent out unutterably sweet melodies. She tried to bring the music by playing upon it with her hand, but found the seven strings would yield but one tone. Keenly disappointed she turned to the letter sent before the gift and found she had not noticed the directions given. Following them carefully she placed the harp in the opened window-way where the wind could blow upon it. Quite a while she waited but at last in the twilight the music came:
”Like stars that tremble into light Out of the purple dark, a low, sweet note Just trembled out of silence, antidote To any doubt; for never finger might Produce that note, so different, so new: Melodious pledge that all He promised should come true.
”Anon a thrill of all the strings; And then a flash of music, swift and bright, Like a first throb of weird Auroral light, Then crimson coruscations from the wings Of the Pole-spirit; then ecstatic beat, As if an angel-host went forth on s.h.i.+ning feet.
”Soon pa.s.sed the sounding starlit march, And then one swelling note grew full and long, While, like a far-off cathedral song, Through dreamy length of echoing aisle and arch Float softest harmonies around, above, Like flowing chordal robes of blessing and of love.
”Thus, while the holy stars did s.h.i.+ne And listen, the aeolian marvels breathed; While love and peace and grat.i.tude enwreathed With rich delight in one fair crown were mine.
The wind that bloweth where it listeth brought This glory of harp-music--not my skill or thought.”
And the listening friend to whom this wondrous experience is told, who has had a great sorrow in her life, and been much troubled in her thoughts and plans replies:
” ... I too have tried My finger skill in vain. But opening now My window, like wise Daniel, I will set My little harp therein, and listening wait The breath of heaven, the Spirit of our G.o.d.”
May we too learn the lesson of the wind-harp. For man is G.o.d's aeolian harp. The human-taught finger skill can bring some rare music, yet by comparison it is at best but a monotone. When the instrument is set to catch the full breathing of the breath of G.o.d, then shall it sound out the rarest wealth of music's melodies. As the life is yielded fully to the breathing of the Spirit we shall find the peace of G.o.d which pa.s.seth all understanding filling the heart; and the power of G.o.d that pa.s.seth all resisting flooding the life; and others shall find the beauty of G.o.d, that pa.s.seth all describing, transfiguring the face; and the dewy fragrance of G.o.d, that pa.s.seth all comparing, pervading the personality, though most likely _we_ shall not know it.
FOOTNOTES:
[17] Exodus x.x.xi: 1-5.
[18] Numbers xi: 16, 17.
[19] Luke i: 13-17, 41.
[20] 1 Cor. xii: 4-6, 11.
[21] Rom. v: 5.
[22] Gal. v: 22-23.
[23] 1 Cor. xiii.
[24] Luke vi: 35. R. V., margin.
FRESH SUPPLIES OF POWER.
”As the Dew.”
There is another very important bit needed to complete the circle of truth we are going over together in these quiet talks. Namely, _the daily life_ after the act of surrender and all that comes with that act.
The steady pull day by day. After the eagle-flight up into highest air, and the hundred yards dash, or even the mile run, comes the steady, steady walking mile after mile. The real test of life is here. And the highest victories are here, too.
I recall the remark made by a friend when this sort of thing was being discussed:--”I would make the surrender gladly but as I think of my home life I know I cannot keep it.” There was the rub. The day-by-day life afterwards. The habitual steady-going when temptations come in, and when many special aids, and stimulating surroundings are withdrawn. This last talk together is about this _afterlife_. What is the plan for that?
Well, let us talk it over a bit.
Have you noticed that the old earth receives a fresh baptism of life daily? Every night the life-giving dew is distilled. The moisture rises during the day from ocean, and lake, and river, undergoes a chemical change in G.o.d's laboratory and returns nightly in dew to refresh the earth. It brings to all nature new life, with rare beauty, and fills the air with the exquisite fragrance drawn from flowers and plants. Its power to purify and revitalize is peculiar and remarkable. It distils only in the night when the world is at rest. It can come only on clear calm nights. Both cloud and wind disturb and prevent its working. It comes quietly and works noiselessly. But the changes effected are radical and immeasurable. Literally it gives to the earth a nightly baptism of new life. That is G.o.d's plan for the earth. And that, too, let me say to you, is His plan for our day-by-day life.
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