To be near unto God - pagina 119

fore to seek fresh air and a healthy atmosphere. In hot and sultry summer days we pant for the And they who are relief which evening brings. in easy reach of the shore revel in the cool invigorating air of the sea. And since we are two-sided, that is to say, since we consist of body and soul, the atmospheric influence upon our physical health finds a counterpart in the effects of the moral character of our surroundings upon our moral development. This, too, is above question. Sad and joyous events

continually show that low moral standards in life injure character, while moral and healthy environments quicken our own moral sense. In education the light and shadow sides are largely dominated by this atmospheric influence. The secret of mother influence upon the early formation of character is largely due to the fact that childhood days are almost entirely spent in her constant presence. The moral life also has laws of its own. It reIt expresses itself in acts and in events. But flects itself in writings and in conversations. all this, moral life is still something even a sort of moral sky, a moral atmosphere which is either healthy and bracing, poisonous and hurtful or neutral and weakening.

apart from else.

It is

However strong our character may be, the influences of this moral atmosphere work out our spiritual benefit or bane. Nor is this all. Not only does the air which we breathe affect our bodily health, and not only does

our moral environment shape our moral life, but a personal atmosphere also affects us strongly. Close fellowship with world-minded people close fellowship with people who are worldly-mmdedand 111

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