 In ancient days the priests of the Hebrews wore upon their breastplates over their hearts certain jewels called “Urim and Thummim,” meaning "Lights and Perfection,” by which they received answers from God. When their people were beset on every hand by enemies, and at their wits’ ends to know which way to turn, the priests turned to God. After purifying themselves and praying they asked God, “Shall we do thus?” and they watched the Urim and Thummim jewels for the answer. If the jewels appeared dark and opaque the answer was, No. But if they lighted up, as a human face lights when it hears good news, then the answer was, Yes. And the people grew lighter too, and went and did as God had indicated. Now, right along beside this story of ancient people I will tell you another—tell it just as ‘twas told to me, by a woman of today, whose name you have doubtless heard. She writes: “I was washing my breakfast dishes one morning and the thought came to me that I would go and see a friend who lived several miles away. I finished my work and started to dress for my journey, when there came over me such a feeling of depression, or despondency, or gloom, that I was startled. I kept on getting ready, at the same time trying to reason away the feeling. But it would not go. Finally, having donned my hat and one glove I started for the door, when such a wave of heaviness came over me that I went back into my room and sat down, and I said ‘God, I want to know the meaning of all this.' And the answer came loud, strong, firm, ‘Stay at home.’ I staid, and as I took off my coat and hat such a feeling of lightness and relief came over me that I seemed to walk on air. At the time I supposed the voice (I call it a voice for want of a more definite term) had told me to stay at home because someone was coming who needed my help. But no one came that day or night, and several times the thought flitted through my mind that perhaps it was all nonsense after all, and that I might as well have gone. Well, the outcome was that the train I would have taken, had I gone, met with a fearful accident wherein many were killed or badly wounded. This is only one of many such experiences I have had.” And I could tell you still others on my own account. The One Great Intelligence has built in every human heart a "Urim and Thummim,” which, as a guide, transcends any human brain that ever existed, or ever will. In fact, every great brain is the result of enlightenment from this very center. At one’s wits’ ends there is infinite light, only waiting to be used. And if only one’s inward eye is single toward this light his whole wits shall be full of light. In olden times people were too dull and material to consult the Light until they had groped into all sorts of trouble in the dark. They supposed it necessary for man to get to his utmost extremity before the Light would shine upon his way. They nosed in the dust and darkness, believing that their natural source and habitat. Then in their hours of extreme need they washed off the dust and went in bare-footed to consult the center of Light upon the breastplate of rightness, over the heart of one consecrated to God. And they never knew that every man in the multitude carried a center of light in his own breast—a center which only needed washing off the dirt and letting out the kinks in their nerves and muscles to reveal a center of Light in every breast in that multitude—centers so light and so true that the jewels on the High Priest’s breastplate cast only their composite shadow. “There is a light that lighteneth every man that cometh into the world.” And it is not the light of reason, but the light that lighteneth reason. It is not located at the center of anybody’s breastplate, to be seen of every Tom, Dick and Harry who runs and reads. It is located under the center of his breastplate, at the solar center of his being. Here his center of Light shines out bright and clear when he is doing the right thing; and when he is doing the wrong, or unwise thing, the clouds of dull feeling roll over and darken his center of Light, and say No to him. And if he goes heedlessly on acting against the admonitions of his center of Light, the clouds keep piling up, and his heart sinks down and down under the leaden weight, and he rarely ever catches even a glimpse of his center of Light. He is “gloomy,” we say. And he grows reckless and defiant and rushes on blindly to "a bad end.” He never understood himself. He never knew that the center of Light within him is his most precious possession, the star alone which could guide him into all good. So he hid it with clouds of doubt, and fear, and distrust—with clouds of ignorance, of NON-RECOGNITION. He “paid no attention” to it. And so used was he to living in clouds of distrust that he never realized that there could be a lighter heart than his. He laughed loudly, and tossed off sparkling wine, and thought he was having a “good time.” Until the crash came, having obscured his center of Light, there was nothing but his brain to guide his actions. He made mistakes. Then came the crash and a standstill; and he found himself and his heavy heart and the dark clouds, and the bottom dropped out of everything. But in the midst of despair he found the priceless jewel—the Urim and Thummim—his own center of Light. And behold, the crash was a Good Thing—the best business investment he ever made. He has through it realized the Way, the Truth, the Light of his own soul. Now, he will walk softly in the Light and there will come no more crashes. I wonder if you think this is a fanciful bit of symbology. It is not. It is plain fact described in the plainest language I have at command. You have a light at your center, in the region called the solar (or light) plexus. When you feel depressed you feel the effects of literal clouds, caused by doubt, distrust, fear, anger, resentment, grief, etc. Back of those clouds shines the eternal Light, at your center—the light meant to guide you and no other, on your way. Shall I tell you what to do? Get still. Quit running around after somebody to tell you what to do. Quit thinking around and around in an endless circle. Quit thinking at all. Be still. Keep whispering “Peace” to the troubled elements of your atmosphere. After a bit the winds and waves of emotion will obey you and subside. The clouds will roll away and your center of Light shine out in all its glory. Then you will know what to do. When you are still then you can ask, “Shall I do thus?” and the lighting or the darkening of your heart will give you the correct answer. |
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