Born Again
I believe that one is converted when first one hears the low, vast
murmur of life, of human life, troubling one's hitherto unconscious self. I
believe one is born first unto oneself —
for the
happy developing of oneself, while the world is a nursery, and the pretty
things are to be snatched for, and the pleasant things tasted; some people seem
to exist thus right to the end. But most are born again upon entering maturity;
then they are born to humanity, to a consciousness of all the laughing, and the
never-ceasing murmur of pain and sorrow that comes from the terrible multitude
of brothers [and sisters]. Then, it appears to me, one gradually formulates
one's religion, be it what it may. A person has no religion who has not slowly
and painfully gathered one together, adding to it, shaping it; and one's
religion is never complete and final, it seems, but must always be undergoing
modification.
— D.H. Lawrence (died March 2, 1930)
The Fellowship of Human Love
The fellowship of human
love, in its very might and beauty, looks above itself for
its own completeness and
interpretation. Not till, hand in hand with those we love, we have bowed our
hearts before the Love that is above us; not till our half-discordant wills
have found their harmony in a Will that is above them all; not till we have
seen behind all beauty of form, and sound, and human soul, the beauty of the
Soul of souls; … not till, with growing knowledge and with deepening love, we
have felt ourselves drawing into ever closer communion with God, … not till then do we know
what it is for which we live and work and are ready to die, not till then have we
a gospel, not till then shall we be fired with a love and supported by a faith
to which all things are possible, not till then shall we know why we are here
and what we have to do.
—
Philip
H. Wicksteed (1844-1927)
No comments:
Post a Comment