HERDS AND THE MAN


bedroom, for he will spoil the serenity of the great nights of other
men.
   "It is not I who write these things," said Jacob Bohme, whose
philosophy penetrated the heights of Heaven. "This that you see
is but a simple-minded and foolish old man. These things are the
love of God." He began his silences as a herder.
   First of all, the young man must realize that the "love of God"
only comes into a man's soul, when love for his fellow-man goes
forth. . . . It's a kind of prayer-this listening-and a man must
make good with fine thoughts and actions. It's a power, a great
gift-this receiving of creative force-and its outpouring is service
to men. You can listen under any tree when you are alone, but
after you have heard the Real Voice, you will go out looking for the
bend of some mighty river, or the brow of the continent, there to
build your house. All the racket and authority of men will never
make you afraid again-only the unworthiness of yourself. .
There's nothing Utopian about a line of this. It's simple law for
every man. The way is clean and open as morning, compared to
the clutter and complication of things as they are. It's the play
of a child compared to the hideous dream in which many move
today.


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