ACCEPTING THE UNIVERSE 



economies do not fit her especial scheme. Life is 

 synonymous with intelligence; all organic nature 

 shows the working of the primal mind — the adap- 

 tation of means to specific ends, and the steady 

 improvement from lower to higher. 



What we think, when trying to render an ac- 

 count to the reason of the enigma of life, often has 

 little relation to what we do, as practical, struggling 

 beings. We are free to think in all directions, free to 

 move in but few. Our thoughts are like the vapors 

 that drift with the winds, or that expand equally in 

 all directions. Our actual lives are like the waters 

 that must flow in definite channels, and turn some 

 wheel or irrigate some tract of land, or quench some 

 creature's thirst. That naturalism, with minds which 

 take an interest in it, should result in low standards 

 of life, or in any form of disorder or failure, I do not 

 believe. Only clear, strong, truth-loving spirits can 

 accept this explanation of things. Much more 

 mentality is demanded than is demanded by the old 

 conceptions. Hence one has to face the terrible re- 

 alities and discipline the spirit to accept them. In 

 the old views, in supernaturalism, all this is done 

 for one by the Church and one is a member of a 

 personally conducted party to heaven. 



XIV. THE TIDE OF LIFE 



We cannot find God by thinking. Thinking starts 

 us on an endless quest. We can find neither end nor 



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