“Still in each heart of hearts a hidden deep
Lies, never fathomed by its dearest, best.”
* * * * * * * * * *
It shields me from the day to come,
And makes the present hour my home.”
Some people say they wish they could know their future. They are sincere enough; they wish they could. But this would not be a blessing. It is better we should not know. It would shadow and sadden our lives if we knew from the beginning all the trials and sorrows we shall have. This was one of the peculiar elements of the life of Christ; he knew what lay before him. The cross cast the shadow over the manger where he slept his first sleep. This foreknowledge made his life sadder than if he had gone on unaware of what was awaiting him.
It is one of the mercies of our life that we do not know what shall come to us. In the unopened years there may be waiting for us trials, disappointments, and losses. None of us know what chapters of sorrow will yet be written ere our life-story is finished. Would it be a blessing if the veil were lifted today, showing us all, down to the close, that will be painful or sad?
There are old people now well through life’s journey. They have had many cares and trials. Friends have failed them. Children have been taken away. They have had struggles and hardship. They have endured sicknesses and losses. They have not found what they hoped to find in life. Supposing they had known all this, seen it all from some lofty spot when they set out in sunny youth; would it have been a blessing to them? Would it have made their life a happier, richer, better one? No – it would have cast a tinge of sadness over it. It would have taken out of it much of that zest and interest, which have been such inspiration to them through all their years.
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