Walking in Shadow or Sunlight.
By Hope Ledyard
I was walking along the street the other day, when I saw a young girl, whom I knew, and a little tot of three years, crawling along disconsolately on the shady side of the way. It was a side street, and no one was passing, so I called out, "Come over in the sun, Mollie." The girl looked up, crossed over, and we walked on together, the child dancing along in the happiest manner. "Why, how pleasant it is on this side!" exclaimed Mollie. "I had no idea it was so warm and cheerful. We were half frozen, and I was going to turn back." How like that is so many a Christian life? How many find the "narrow way" cold and dreary, and are inclined to turn back and give it up entirely. And, yet, there is the Sun, and they might walk in his light; there is the bright, sunny path of entire and full consecration, of unwavering faith, of perfect submission to him who "knoweth the way that I take." Let us see if we can find the way out of the shadow into this sunlight. The very darkest, coldest shadow comes from want of faith. You are wrapping yourself up in your feelings, your attainments, your understanding of God's word. No wonder you shine dismally, and that the way seems cold and dark. Look across; see such as Frances Ridley Havergal or Hannah Smith, and, I trust some among your own personal friends, walking in bright sunlight, never thinking whether they feel aright or have yet attained to anything, never questioning God's word. It is enough that Christ has been perfect for them, that he leads them. "Ah! but," says one, "some lives are full of shadows—full of trouble." Thank God, lives are not like houses—they can be brought into the sunlight; and we know that even this created sun has power to break away all shadow—how much more the Uncreated Sun who longs to shine full upon us! I do think we look upon trouble in a very unscriptural way nowadays. I am quite sure that in the apostles' time there were many in the church who were enduring great sorrow and affliction, apart from the fierce persecution which raged, for it may be that great persecution brings with it an exalted state of mind; so we will not consider that at all. But I am sure that many a mother, in the apostles' time, was mourning the loss of her darling, many a wife was dragging through years of devotion to one who was blind to all her self-sacrifice, many a man was beset by terrible business difficulties. Yet, did the apostles pity them, and wish it were in their power to take the load of sorrow, or sacrifice, or anxiety off? "Behold," says St. James, "we count them happy which endure." Ah! there is the shadow, and beyond, looking at the unseen things, shines the clear light of that Sun which is risen with healing—healing for wounded, tired, discouraged hearts—in his wings. Is it not foolish,—no, is it not wicked,—to walk shivering in the shadow, when by one step, into full faith and acceptance of God's will, you may be in the warmth of his presence?—Hope Ledyard, in S. S. Times.