May 2010 The skies have been heavy all day with the weight of dark, moody clouds. The air is dense with shifting fog. The window panes are dripping with raindrops unschooled in anything but slipping and sliding aimlessly along whatever surface they can find. It would seem an entire universe is reflecting the uncertainty of world affairs. And yet a robin is hopping energetically from one wet spot in the yard to another, a squirrel is sitting bolt upright in the bird feeder, merrily stuffing himself, and over there, in that corner see those flecks of purple? The lilac bush is in bloom. The birds, the squirrels, the early blooming things aren't worrying about the state of the nation. They're going cheerily along, each contributing his small share to making the world a better place in which to live. Henry Van Dyke, beloved American author, once wrote: Four things a man must learn to do If he would make his record true: To think without confusion clearly; To love his fellow-men sincerely; To act from honest motives purely; To trust in God and Heaven securely. Henry Van Dyke loved nature and he learned many lessons from the inhabitants of the woods and streams he knew so well. This brief poem entitled Four Lines gives one a simple pattern for living. To think without confusion clearly is to take time, perhaps, to commune with God. To listen for Gods voice and get our directives straight from Him rather than from well-meaning but equally confused friends. Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46: 10) stops all stupid rushing about, ends a frustrating struggle for money, power prestige. It bids us step aside alone, away from the crowd, and be still be truly still inside, until we hear what next move God wants us to make. To love his fellow-men sincerely is merely another way of saying, Love thy neighbor as thyself. Everyone knows that love reflects love, and since John tells us that love is of God, we are bound to derive comfort from putting that directive into practice. To act from honest motives purely is nothing more nor less than the Golden Rule. We don't need to make such a task out of it. All we need do is put ourselves in the other persons place and behave accordingly. The crux of the whole business of living is climaxed in the last line, To trust in God and Heaven securely. Is there anyone else in whom one can trust securely? Is there any other omniscience, omnipotence, or omnipresence than God? Is there any logical reason for doubting God? Hasn't He, since the world evolved, held securely in His great love all those who claimed the power of that love? The lilac blooms year in and year out, a bit of sunshine in a grey day. A secluded corner, and she beautifies it. A humble task and she performs it to the glory of her Creator. Perhaps we should think more about living to the glory of our Creator.