Rebellion Against this Mad Rush – Sunday, June 22, 1941
Sometimes in the confusion with which we live our lives, 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 among us 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 a constant whirl. There are others who rebel against the madness of this rush—a rush that is quite apart from arriving at any particular destination. And in rebelling against it we sometimes go to the extreme of thinking that we should like everlasting repose. But that, fortunately, is not the heaven we shall inherit, nor should we want it if we did. Seraphic wings and the everlasting playing of a harp would quickly 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 here and hereafter—a life that provides for refreshment of mind, for enjoyment of friends, for time to think creative thoughts and for time to bring substance out of those thoughts with the labor of hand and brain—and then time to pause, not too long, but sufficient to prepare for more great thoughts and more good works. 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 have peace within us, that we may rest briefly, and then have greater zest for work which remains to be done, of which there will always be aplenty, 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.” (Mark 6:31) We should like to respond to that invitation—to get out of the rushing stream just long enough to catch our breath, and then, Lord, gladly would we set to, and work again to do Thy bidding so long as life shall last here, and in that place to which Thou shall call us home, hereafter.
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June 22, 1941
Broadcast Number 0,618