A W e s t e r n e r w r i t e s o f t h e W e s t • • •
REAL POLISH
Vv hile visiting an international gem and mineral exposition filled with collections of some of the most beautiful stones in the world, I listened again and again to the sound of a sharp, pinging noise. Coming closer to the sound I saw an object I had often read about but had never seen. It was a large, transparent, revolving tumbler, spinning slowly around hour after hour. Inside were agates, together with certain abrasives and polishing agents. The noise I had been hearing was the rattle of the stones as they hit the edge of the tumbler as it revolved, sometimes for as long as 72 hours. The result? Highly polished agates, ready to be used for many lovely and useful things. Experienced agate-hunters find the stones in their crude form in the mountains, hills and streams. When they pick them up they can imagine the beauty that will eventually come forth after the tumbler has smoothed and polished the agates. Is this not a picture of God as He looks upon us? Surely He sees our inward potential and the beauty we are capable of showing if we are willing to let Him smooth off the selfish, sinful corners, polish the mean, sharp edges and shape the forms of our lives into something useful as well as lovely. Watching the tumbler revolve ceaselessly, I could not help but wonder if anything would be left of the stones when they came out. After 72 hours of being knocked against the edges of the cylinder they surely would be worn down to nothing. But the finished product looked very substantial. How seldom we see any reason for, or appreciate the value of abrasives as they come into our lives. That person that "rubs us the wrong way” — how can contact with him be of any possible value in shaping Christian character? Can we achieve any polish from those sharp, cutting words someone flings at us? Can the scratch of the petty annoyances help shape a beautiful life? We are inclined to think that life’s hard knocks will eventually wear us down. Actually, although unpleasant and irritating, life’s abrasives can serve as polishing agents to give shape and luster to our lives. For the more often we show Christian love and patience, the more valuable our influence becomes. A Chinese proverb says: " A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor can a man be perfected without trials.” Rather than wearing us down, abrasives can give a substan tial lift to our faith and spiritual stamina to our Christianity. — Hildur G. Nelson
by HAROLD E. DYE Pastor, Baptist Temple San Jose, California A world-weary minister and his Spanish-American f r i e n d Pablo pit themselves against the sun and sand of the Arizona desert to find the Padre’s Lost Gold Miné. A suspenseful story, sparked with flashes of spontaneous hu mor, filled with action such as a flash flood, a near-disastrous javelina hunt, and a search for gold. Yet a golden vein of inspira tion, provided by the minister’s profound impressions in the silent splendor of the desert, runs throughout. $2.75 The author and Pablo try to find a unique rug pattern handed down by an extinct race— and find a pattern for living. $1.75 THROUGH GOD'S EYES by Harold E. Dye The author tries to help Pablo see the mysteries of pain, poverty, and death through God’s eyes. $1.50 A t your booksellers BROADMAN PRESS Nashville, Tennessee THE WEAVER by Harold E. Dye
REMEMBER "Suffer the Chil dren to come.’’ For the past 41 years, the Homes of Onesiphorus have been your arm of love to bring Christ to the Chi nese, Lebanese and Arab children. Most of them now active Christians in their native land. Bless them and you will be blessed. For more information write today: George E. Hedberg, Executive Director Home of Onesiphorus 3939 North Hamlin Ave., Chicago 18, Illinois
18
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker