c/o their parents and teachers

This is not merely a Season’s Greeting; it is year-round appeal to the human hearts and minds.

In connection with the Easter Days, and particularly with Passion Week, I was thinking how beneficial it is for the human spirit to be isolated from the hurrying stream of activities by fleshly illness and thus be led toward the still, quiet waters where one may contemplate and concentrate upon the Event of the Resurrection of our Lord 1920 years ago.

That is what I wish to chat about with your older children who, however, being young and being mingled amidst the unbelieving youth of our days, may not wish to listen to me. Of times, it is hard for the young to believe in the reality of this miracle.

But they, admittedly, see sometimes some dreams, - dreams which are not just physical reflections of their day-time life. There IS something miraculous behind such dreams if only we would stop to think more seriously about some of the details. They are far beyond imagination. True, some of them are nightmarish. Such are closer to the consequences of the physical position-or indisposition-of the body. But some of dreams are purely fantastic and, if we do not pay any attention or are unable to conceive the image, we are depriving ourselves of the opportunity to grasp the difference.

The Bible speaks of many prophetic dreams and their fulfillment, and even we, who are so upset and imperfect-always taking thought for the morrow-could make our dreams much clearer and more meaningful if we would practice holding them in our minds and memories. Of course, this means a long process of spiritual training for which young and adult alike are too negligent. And we must not force them to believe blindly for such belief lacks vitality, and is too readily uprooted.

Yet, we cannot neglect the fact that one of the messengers of our mind-the imagination-is itself a veritable miracle, even as is our sight. Just to start to realize our ability to see-it is amazing! But imagination-and even science-is only a first step to BELIEF because belief is mother of all inspirations and inspiration itself an addition to the imagination. Out of these all too seldom practiced qualities of our being comes the prosaic word “ABSTRACT”. It kills the spirit if taken together with the merely practical mind. So, then, for the green mind of our rising generation to begin this practice they mist distinguish clearly between CIVILIZATION and CULTURE.

CIVILIZATION – is to be selfish; to be ambitions; to achieve on earth; to conquer; whereas.

CULTURE – is to-conquer self; to give up; to sacrifice in the name of the highest ideals.

So, it’s a long way even to the very start of learning the main word, which is bigger than love itself-the word “UNDERSTANDING”.

Without training our dreams, which are the seeds of spiritual uplifting, it is impossible even to approach to a clear conception of the greatest word of all-BELIEF or FAITH. This is the key to what some ironically call “Paradise”/ but this word “Belief” or “Faith” will remain an abstract until we concentrate on St. Paul’s message to the Hebrews. Ch. II v. I.

“Now faith is the substance of thins hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.

To make it simple for the young I can say: - Humanity unconsciously was longing for life after death and Christ brought for us that life, the life eternal for our spirit, which, before, was just a dream. Now, it has come true; has become most wonderful eternal life, made manifest through Him.

But there is danger: as belief is a light and every light is followed by a shadow-exactly as the higher the good the lower the evil-one word, even one single, slightest doubt-may extinguish the flame of young belief and that resulting doubt may grow into a despair which will surely mar life and could even kill the human soul.

So let us practice the skill of light bearers and be as a lamp unto the path, a light unto the feet of stumbling, groping, questioning youth as we lead them up the Cross of Christ, the Saviour.

So let us teach and encourage the young to see HIM and to “sense” HIM; yes, to dream dreams for, where there are no dreams, no spiritual visions, the people perish. But-seeing HIM, accepting HIM, then truly shall they know CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED and, in that knowledge, find high purpose and true direction in their daily life and peace unto their immortal soul.

Printed and Published By DIXIE PRESS Lakeland, Florida.

Чтобы было понятнее, скажу так. Человечество неосознанно желало жизни после смерти, и Христос дал нам эту жизнь, вечную жизнь духа, до этого бывшую лишь мечтой, сладкой грезой. И вот мечта осуществилась, обратилась в жизнь вечную, явленную людям через Него. Существует все же опасность. Вера есть свет, а за светом всегда следует тень, и чем возвышеннее добро, тем низменнее зло, и одного слова, незначительного сомнения довольно, чтобы погасить огонь юной веры. Сомнение может перерасти в отчаяние, способное омрачить жизнь и даже погубить человеческую душу.

Напечатано и опубликовано DIXIE PRESS, Лейкленд, Флорида.