COMING through the City, at one of the busiest hours of the afternoon, I learned a lesson of childlike faith, which I would fain always practice. It was at a thronged junction, where six roads meet; cabs, omnibuses, and carts were rolling along, when noticed a little boy come to the corner — a bright little fellow with a close-fitting woolen turban upon his head, and a satchel full of books over his shoulder. He was evidently going home from school, but to reach that home he would have to cross the crowded thoroughfare, where dangers thronged thick on every hand.
Now, what did he do? Rush blindly on, regardless of threatening vehicles, leaving his safety to chance, or trusting to his own wisdom and nimble feet? This is what many do in daily life. They have learned so much at Mr. Worldly-Wiseman’s school that they can thread their way homeward in perfect safety. My little boy did not act rashly. Nor did he go to the opposite extreme, and wait until the traffic stopped. He would have lost his tea had he stayed at that corner until there was a clear path. Some act thus in life. They think to tarry till the dangers are all gone by. They will tarry a long day if they wait for such a favorable opportunity. Nor did my boy get bewildered and excited at the many coming and going. How often some of us are guilty of such a course of action. We look at the many things of this whirling age, until we are fairly mazed and incapable of doing anything wisely.
A tall, stout, City policeman was standing at the crowded corner, and my boy did what he had doubtless done many times before, he went to the good-natured officer, and, putting his little hand into the great strong hand, looked up into the man’s face with eyes that said, “Please, Mr. Policeman, take me across the road.” Answering the little fellow’s faith, the constable took his hand firmly, and then calmly walked into the carriage-way. Not a vehicle dared threaten, for the power of the law was on the child’s side, and with perfect confidence in the midst of bewildering danger he passed over.
May we not act thus when dangers throng our path? Not rush on; not wait for a favorable opportunity; not give way to perplexity and bewilderment, but at once go to the Lord Himself, and, placing our weak faith in His strong hand, silently ask Him to lead us over. Will He not respond to our trust?
I felt that boy was not troubled with a guilty conscience, or he would not have acted after such a fashion. Had he been doing wrong he would have dreaded and feared the gentleman in uniform. Ah the reason why we often fail to put our hand in God’s hand, to be led through life’s dangers, is because we have a guilty conscience. Oh to have full confidence in Him who says, “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not.” (Isa. 41:1313For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13).)
We have one advantage over the boy which ought to make faith easier, the One in whom we trust is our Father, not only full of power to stay the crushing wheels of misfortune and calamity, but full of love — love to each of us, individually and personally.
Shall we not say, as we approach Him at the perplexing corners of our homeward way from life’s school: —
“The throng is great, my Father! Many a doubt
And fear of danger compass me about,
And foes oppress me sore. I cannot stand,
Or go alone. O Father! take my hand,
And through the throng
Lead safe along
Thy child.”
W. L.