A famous Alpine climber tells of an unexpected climax to one of his feats. With two companions he had scaled one of the most difficult peaks, and descending, found ruge from the storm and night in the cottage of a goats-herd. The three men, half-frozen, and exhausted with the long and terrible stain, but glowing with triumph, crouched before the fire.
The goats-herd’s wife, a dull, old woman, stood looking at them in silence for a while, and then pronounced a single word:
“Pourquoi?” (“Why?”)
The men looked at each other with an expression of surprise on each face. They had risked health and strength and life itself, “Why?” What had they gained?
There was no answer. The one word struck, as if upon a blank wall, awakening their consciousness of useless struggle and suffering and danger.
The snow fell outside, and the mist shut out the hills. They did not talk to early other. Each was asking himself the question, “Why?”
Most of us have tried some of this Alpine-climbing in our day, till some honest, discerning soul, stood in our path with the searching and solemn query— “Why?”
“Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live.” isa. 55:2, 32Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:2‑3), “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isa, 55:6.
ML 02/09/1941