Mrs. Lane was wakened one morning by a strange pecking at her window. Getting up she saw a butterfly flying backwards and forwards inside the window in a great fright. Outside was a sparrow flying at the glass and trying to reach the butterfly. The butterfly did not see the glass, but it saw the sparrow, and evidently expected every moment to be caught. Neither did the sparrow see the glass, but it saw the butterfly and was sure he would catch him. Yet all the while, because of that thin, invisible sheet of glass, the butterfly was as safe as if it had been miles away from the sparrow.
How often we, who have trusted the Lord as our Saviour, forget He is our Protector, and our hearts fail us. We read of how Elisha’s servant was in great fear when he awoke in the morning and saw the city surrounded with horses and chariots and a great host. But when his eyes were opened at the prayer of the prophet, his fears vanished, for he beheld the mountains full of horses and chariots of fire.
Not many lives, but only one have we—
Frail, fleeting man!
How sacred should that one life ever be—
That narrow span.
Day after day filled up with blessed toil;
Hour after hour still bringing in new spoil.
H. Bonar
ML-11/06/1977