7/6/52

Scripture: (Read Psalm 34).

The ancient Hebrew people traveled at a much slower pace than do most of the folk who move about today. In order for people to attend such a meeting as that of the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches held on June 18th to 25th at Claremont, California, one might use any one of several modes of transportation -- all of them very much faster than anything the ancient Hebrews ever imagined.

My family and I traveled by automobile a distance of something like 2,200 miles in five days’ travel time from here to Claremont. A 48-voice Hawaiian choir traveled about the same distance from Honolulu to the Southern California coast, coming to the Claremont meeting by airplane flight in about 13 hours. Others arrived from the east in fast, comfortable trains in a matter of three days, more or less. Still others came by bus, riding day and night for two and one-half to three days over distances such as our family traveled by automobile.

Those of us who crossed and re-crossed some of the trails used by pioneer settlers who walked the weary miles up and down mountains and across deserts on the trails of the Mormon settlers or over the Santa Fe trail were vividly reminded of the tremendous difference in speed, comfort and safety between those determined and patient pioneers and ourselves. They had all of their earthly possessions in their covered wagons. They were subject to the dangers of break down, of hostile Indian attack, of desert heat, famine or thirst. Any one of numerous mishaps could bring disaster and death -- and did to many of those adventurous folk. If we had a mishap, or breakdown, as I did when the car refused to complete a long climb out of the California-Arizona desert, there was help not too far away, and the trip could be resumed within the hour.

When the Hebrews of the Psalmist’s time traveled on their Palestinian highways, it was slow, and often dangerous, going. One usually moved by foot. Sandals let the dust and gravel get into toes and beneath heels. The foot-washing at the end of a day’s travel was not only a luxury; it was a necessity in order to keep one’s means of locomotion in repair! If one were both prosperous and fortunate, he might do some of his traveling on the back of a donkey. That only saved his feet from wear and weariness. It did not speed him up much over the very few miles that he could travel in the course of one day.

One advantage the early Hebrew traveler did have: he had lots of time to observe the scene through which he passed. If it be hilly or mountainous country, he could observe, and meditate upon, each slope. He could observe trees, other plants, rock formations, horizons, animals, sunrises and sunsets, with leisure. And it gave him occasion to meditate on the Creator of all that he saw. It was likely that he would give some thought to his own place in the picture of what he saw.

Some of the Psalms were the expression of what may have been a travelers meditations. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained” [Psalm 8: 3] --- “the sheep and oxen, yea, the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air; and the fish of the sea” ---[Psalm 8: 7-8] --- all this and more: “What is man that Thou art mindful of him?” [Psalm 8: 4]. The traveler himself is so insignificant in space, as compared to the vastness of the hills, the wilderness, the limitless skies, the endless variety of life around him. And yet the traveler recognizes all this; he sees these realities; he comprehends something of the time and circumstance of the creation and a conviction rises within his being that God has given him a station that is worthy, a place in experience that is creative and cognizant. And he comes to reflect on the greatness, the right-ness, the serene majesty and power of the Creator.

He knows some of the dangers of his travel. He may be set upon by beast or by outlaw. He may injure himself in a fall; he may exhaust all his energies or become ill. But more than likely he will reach his journey’s end safely. And he is conscious of a divine mercy and favor that have usually attended him on his travels.

It was people of the Psalmist’s time who, while traveling from one city or village to another, learned to sing, in responsive, antiphonal fashion, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills.” [Psalm 121: 1a]. And then the thought came to mind that man is so insignificant in size and power beside such grandeur: “From whence cometh my help?” [Psalm 121: 1b]. And the conviction cries: “My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” [Psalm 121: 2]. -- the stars and other celestial bodies, the mountains, the deserts, the seas, the fields, and all that is therein --- the same Mighty Maker has fashioned me, the traveler, and has given me an importance in his own sight, a mission to fulfill; a destiny to pursue.

A week ago today, my family and I stood at various points on the Arizona side of the Grand Canyon. We had earlier witnessed evidence of man’s ingenuity and understanding in the achievement of the Hoover dam to control and use the power of the raging Colorado River. There in the early morning light (we had gotten up before dawn to start the trip to the Canyon rim) we could see in changing color and distance, in layers of the earth’s crust, in vastness of spaces and contemplation of time, what the Colorado River has done in the process of erosion over millions of years. The Grand Canyon presents a view on a grand scale. It is a tremendous reminder of the magnitude of the process of creation and development. It makes man pitiably insignificant in size and time as one sees the tiny ant-like forms of people, mounted or afoot, moving on the tortuous trails thousands of feet below. And yet it also suggest a dignity within the soul of man, as the creature who partially comprehends the creative processes of the Almighty.

During our trip to and from the west coast to attend the Council meeting, we saw, as any traveler does, other reminders of the Creator’s greatness and majesty -- even upon this small planet -- just one of the “earths” among the countless stars. There were the Black Hills of South Dakota -- really mountains in a proper sense. There was Pike’s Peak rising from the foothills and plains of central Colorado. There were the snow-capped mountains of Utah, the deserts of Nevada, California, and Arizona, the plains of Dakota, Wyoming and Kansas. There was the surf of the great Pacific ocean lapping on the shore of one short beach. There were the wild things like the wary Wyoming antelope; and the confident, curious deer of the Grand Canyon National Park which came close to us in our car; the pheasants of Dakota running or occasionally flying near the road -- all reminders of the vastness, the complexity, and yet the unity of God’s creation.

One who travels, as we did, sees other thought-provoking sights as well, many of them an accomplishment of man’s vision and effort. Pausing for a little time in the Black Hills of South Dakota, we looked up at the likenesses of four of America’s leading patriots carved in mountainous size, but faithful artistry, on the granite of Mount Rushmore. One thinks of the determination, the integrity, the service and the vision that have gone into the building of a nation as one looks at those likenesses carved and blasted out of the solid rock in over a decade of work. One is reminded, if he thinks at all of his history, that those were God-fearing men who knew the guidance of a Power greater and more assured than the power of any human being or party of humans.

We saw busy oil fields in Wyoming, California and elsewhere, whose giant pumps testified to man’s faith and ingenuity in developing for his use the resources of the earth stored through the ages. It staggers one’s comprehension to think of the tremendous quantities of this resource of nature’s patient bounty required to keep moving the host of diesel locomotives and trucks, the busses, planes, the jet flyers and the throngs of autos one sees everywhere.

Near Colorado Springs, we visited the Black Forest, and saw there a campsite of natural beauty and great usefulness, where I attended the summer pastor’s school of 1949. Trees surround the buildings except for a few vistas which open to the mountain view, lifting up the eye to the hills.

We went down into the inward parts of the great Hoover Dam, saw the visible portions and heard the hum of its giant generators, saw the lines that carried away its electrical energy to the metropolitan area of Southern California. We looked over the scores of ships and docks at Wilmington and San Pedro where Los Angeles harbors handle sea-going traffic second now only to the port of New York. All of these man-developed sights and uses of natural resources are a reminder of the partnership of mankind with his Creator in making useful, or inspiring, bits of the created earth.

And then we had vivid reminders of the personal nearness of God in the mingling of people at the General Council meetings. Something like 2500 people, delegates and associates, gathered there for church business, for Christian fellowship and for worship for a full week. Two weeks ago today the Bridges Auditorium of the Associated Colleges in Claremont, was packed full of people in the Council Sunday service. A mighty organ, an inspired preacher, and a dignified choir from Hawaii lifted our hearts unto God and assured us of His presence there among us. The choir sang in their Polynesian tongue. But one did not have to understand the Hawaiian language to praise God in the music.

During the week a tremendous docket of business was handled, some of it controversial in the convictions called up out of the experience of many people present. But the spirit of God was present at that Council, and for the most part, people could agree or disagree in Christian love.

Difference of opinion over selection of Moderator for the next three years.

Difference of opinion over proposed merger.

Difference of opinion over Council for Social Action.

Personal Inspiration:

Anna Carol among those recognized as missionaries of the American Board.

Anna Carol among those asked to assist in leadership of college action of seminars on religion and higher education.

College friend Dr. Fred Richards of Oregon elected National President of Congregational Laymen’s Fellowship.

Former [financial officer] of my seminary, CTS, a layman R. Robert Calhoun, elected Moderator [for cong. liaison]

Week of fellowship in Christian inspiration and concern, the physical experiences of travel, change and for visitors, have made clear the spiritual truth of what the Psalmist had in mind. When, after lifting his eye unto the hills of Palestine, or the Hill of the Lord in His Temple, he knew as we know that the real help of our lives comes from the Lord who made the Heavens and the earth, and who also made us.

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, July 6, 1952 (Congregational and Methodist Union Services, 7:30 and 11 AM)

Also in Scratoga Union Chapel, July 6, 1952.