Three Teachings: The Landscape, Chastisement, and Choice

Millet, the famous French artist, gave this direction to his brethren: “Every landscape, however small, should contain a suggestion of the possibility of its being indefinitely extended on either side.” That is to say a true picture of scenery will suggest infinity; its margin, its frame, must not bound the imagination. However small the landscape, it must suggest the immeasurable, and its least spot of blue the infinity of the firmament.

Chastisement Since New Testament times there has been a total change in the view with which these afflicted ones are regarded. “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.” No one spends much time about purifying iron, but the assayer is prodigal of patience and trouble when he has gold in the crucible.

Choice The metaphysician tells us that if a hungry ass found itself between a couple of trusses of hay equally attractive the perplexed animal would hesitate until it perished of hunger. That is not our situation; we are not called to judge between two things exactly alike or much alike, but between the two most unlike things in the universe—between the poor, unsatisfying life of the world and the discipleship of Christ, rich in peace and power, in blessing and hope.