A SOLDIER said that the words most often in his thought during the trying experience in the trenches were the lines from Ephesians, "Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." There are in civilian life many situations which present a parallel. The trench may be housework and the cares of a large family, or an uncongenial occupation, or unpleasant surroundings in the sphere of business or the professions. The fire leveled at the trench in such cases will consist of various beliefs relative to these occupations which are held by the so called human mind and perpetuated by false education.
That housework is a task beneath those with "trained minds" is an error that bids fair to leave discontent and destruction in its wake, until it is learned that intelligence is as necessary in a degree to the satisfactory washing of dishes as to the solving of a problem in the higher mathematics. In office work, the belief that there are many minds, each pulling in the direction pointed out by self interest, presents a constant barrage; and even those engaged in Christian Science practice have to combat the suggestion that the burden is being borne by human shoulders, and that the press of work upon them is often very great.
The question arises as to how these would be disturbers of peace and content may be met and conquered. Shall we jump out of our particular trench and rush upon the enemy, thus exposing ourselves to his fire? We may find ourselves making such a move if thought is allowed to dwell on the situation as no longer bearable, with the inevitable result of a further curtailment of our ability for action, rather than a broadening of it. The story is told of many a soldier who, to break the monotony of the trenches, raised a hand or a head above the parapet only to find himself much worse off than before.
