Rebellion Against This Mad Rush – Sunday, April 11, 1948
Sometimes in the confusion with which we live, we find ourselves longing for quiet places. The intensity of everything we do leaves us breathless from day to day, and before we have emerged from one whirlwind, we find ourselves in the midst of another. The acceleration of all things leaves us little time to pause, to linger, to think. For some these things are so because they would have them so.
Some there are who remind us of Hamlet in his dread of death, because to die was to sleep, to sleep was perhaps to dream, and he was afraid of his dreams. There are those who have this same fear of thinking, who are reluctant to slow down the pace of their lives, because to pause would mean to think, to think would mean to face reality, and reality might not be so pleasant as the opiate of constant whirl. There are others who rebel against the madness of this rush—rush that is often quite apart from arriving at any particular destination. And in rebelling against it we sometimes go to the extreme of thinking that we would like everlasting repose. But that, fortunately, is not the heaven we shall inherit, nor should we want it if we did. Endless and enforced repose would likely become as trying as the din of our own lives.
Somewhere between these two extremes is to be found that which we have reason to hope for—a life that provides for refreshment of mind, for refreshment of spirit, for enjoyment of family and friends, for time to think, for time to work—and then time to pause, not too long, but somewhat free from the always breathless haste, somewhat free from the ever-present pressure. No, we do not look for a heaven of unbroken repose, not useless, indolent repose, but only a little repose, that we may think clearly, that we may be at peace, that we may rest briefly, and then have greater zest for work yet to be done, which there will always be, worlds without end. Said the Savior of men to those who were with Him: “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.”1 We feel sometimes that we should like to respond to that invitation—to get out of the rushing stream just long enough to catch our breath, and then, gladly would we set to, and work again so long as life shall last here, and in that place to which we shall be called home, hereafter.
*Revised.
1Mark 6:31
“The Spoken Word,” heard over Radio Station K S L and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System, from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 11, 1948, 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, EST. Copyright 1948.
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April 11, 1948
Broadcast Number 0,973