The Freedom of Life

umstance

ys checkmate him; whereas, in most cases, the more difficult the game the more thoroughly the players are aroused to do their best, and a difficult game is invariably a good one,-the winner and the loser both feel it to be so,-even though the loser may regret his loss. But-the reader will say-a game of chess is a game only,-neither one's bread and butter nor one's life depend upon winning or losing it. If, however, we need to be coo

uth that CIRCUMSTANCES, HOWEVER DIFFICULT, ARE ALWAYS

hness would have us go; they are opportunities which are meant to guide us in the directio

, rough hew them as we may," and it is in the stupid resistance to having our ends s

y persisted in going through it, it would save the loss of energy and happiness which results from obsti

mitations to him or to his friends; but if he will try with a willing mind to find the gate of opportunity which was not u

ifferent!" If the horse had run over him, he might have said the same thing and found his opportunity to more that was good and useful in life through steady patience on his bed. The trouble is that we are not willing to cal

he good use in its being different, and how soon we should settle into the sense of its being "all right!" When a circumstance that has seemed to us all wrong can be made, through our quiet way of meetin

llingness in our hearts in general, we can adjust ourselves to anything in particular,-even to very sudden and unexpected changes. It i

sistance is far beyond the strength of will required to resist unwholesomely. The stronger, the more fixed and immovable the centre, the more free and adaptable are the circumferences of action; and, even th

actice. We have to compel ourselves to be "willing," over and over again, at each new opportunity; so

intelligence in understanding its causes, and using the acquired knowledge as a means to a higher end, that ultimately

umstances." How many people are held down for a lifetime by the habitual belief in

activity of mind required to adjust ourselves to difficult surroundings gives a zest and interest to life which we can find in no other way, and adds a certain strength to the character which cannot be found elsewhere. It is interesting to observe, too, how often it happens that, when we have

of his own obedience to law. But he needs, for this, the truthful and open spirit which leads to wise self-knowledge; a quiet and a willing spirit, to make the necessary sacrifice of selfish pride. His quiet earnestness will give him the strength to carry out what his clear vision will reveal to him in the light of truth He will keep his head lifted up above his enemies round about him, so that he may steadily watch and clearly see how best to act. After periods of hard fighting the i

quick, sharp and conclusive. This wonderful principle is often misused for selfish ends, and in such cases it leads eventually to bondage because, by the successful satisfaction of selfish motives, it strengthens the hold of our selfishness upon us; but, when used in an unselfish spirit, it is an ever-increasing source of strength. In the cas

iew, whence we can see clearly how to take firm and decided action. From such action the re-action is only renewed strength,-never painful and contracting weakness. If we could give up all our selfish desires and resistances,

om. If the reader finds himself in the throes of this weakness and is helped through these words to recognize the fact, let him hasten to shun it as he would shun

fortunes on another planet, and an angel appearing

ife is upon the new planet unless you are placed in the midst of var

ible; therefore the more characteristic and difficult my circumstances are the better." Then imagine the interest that man w

nce is that in mathematics the head alone is exercised, and in life the head and the heart are both brought into play, and the first difficulty is to persuade the head and heart to work together. In the visitor from Mars, of course, the heart would be working with the head, and so the whole man would be centred on getting creditably through his experience and home again. If our hearts and heads were together equally concentrated

f circumstances which will save us from much unnecessary suffering. This has to do

vities were turned in that direction. She accepted a part in a play; but as soon as she began to study all her old head symptoms returned, and she was thoroughly frightened, thinking that she might never be able to use her head again. Upon being convin

which occurred there. If the sufferer could only be persuaded that, when such associations are once bravely faced, it take

ths and years, through holding on to the

ime and patience to do it. We must often talk to our brains as if we were talking to another person to eliminate the impressions from old associations. Tell your brain in so ma

result is gained, throw off the impression of the pain of the process entirely and forever. Thus may we both live and observe for our own good and that of o