A HEAVENLY PRESENCE 119 



seems turmoil and confusion and nothing is visible. 

 But behind all we know the stars still pursue their 

 mighty way. At the back of everything we realise 

 there is a Power constant and dependable in whom 

 we can absolutely put our trust. 



This is the impression — the impression of stead- 

 fastness, constancy, and reliability — which a nightly 

 contemplation of the stars makes upon us. At 

 the foundation of things is something dependable, 

 something in which we can repose our faith. 

 And so the sense of calm and confidence we feel. 



And in the desert we have no feeling that the 

 stars pursue their course in cold indifference to us — 

 that the Power which sustains them works its soul- 

 less way unregardful of the frettings of. us little 

 men. Not thus are we who watch the desert stars 

 impressed. Quite otherwise. For nowhere do we 

 feel the Influence nearer, more intimate or more 

 beneficent. We seem in the very midst of the great 

 Presence. We are immersed in it. It is pervad- 

 ing us on every side. We do not expect it to alter 

 the whole course of Nature for our private good. 

 But we feel confident that the course of Nature is 

 for good — that Nature is a beneficent and no callous 

 Power, and has good at heart. Because the founda- 

 tions are so sure and good we can each pursue our 

 way in confidence. This is the impression we get. 



And the Power which guides the stars upon 

 their heavenly way, and which, in guiding them, 

 guides us across the desert, does not reside, we feel, 

 in lonely grandeur in the empty places of the 

 heavens, but in the stars themselves — in their very 

 constitution — in each individually and in all in their 



