I cannot grasp the higher while using both hands to grasp the lower.
Thus religion is the interpenetration and permeation of my personality by that of God. And prayer is the communion by which this permeation becomes possible. And faith is the vision of these possibilities, the being persuaded by them, and the resolute purpose to attain them. And faith in Christ is confiding communion with him and obedience to his commands that his divine life may flow over into me and dominate mine. And common-sense, and the more refined common-sense which we call science, can show me no other means to the attainment of that godlikeness which is the only true conformity to environment.
And, holding such a belief and faith, we must be hopeful. And only next in importance to faith and love stands hope. The hero must be hopeful. And when times look dark about you, and they sometimes will, you must still hope.
"O it is hard to work for God, To rise and take his part Upon the battle-field of earth, And not sometimes lose heart!
"O there is less to try our faith In our mysterious creed, Than in the godless look of earth In these our hours of need.
"Ill masters good; good seems to change To ill with greatest ease; And, worst of all, the good with good Is at cross purposes.
"Workman of God! O lose not heart, But learn what God is like; And in the darkest battle-field Thou shalt know where to strike.
"Muse on his justice, downcast soul! Muse, and take better heart; Back with thine angel to the field, Good luck shall crown thy part!
"For right is right, since God is God; And right the day must win; To doubt would be disloyalty, To falter would be sin."
Hope on, be strong and of a good courage. For in the dark hours others will lean on you to catch your hope and courage. To many a poor discouraged soul you must be "a hiding-place from the wind and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Every power and force in the universe of environment makes for the ultimate triumph of truth and right. Defeat is impossible. "One man with God on his side is the majority that carries the day. 'We are but two,' said Abu Bakr to Mohammed as they were flying hunted from Mecca to Medina. 'Nay;' answered Mohammed, 'we are three; God is with us.'"