A CERTAIN fountain playing in the sunshine in a lovely park and sending forth an abundance of clear, sparkling water, draws many to it to partake of its ever flowing streams of refreshment. How joyous and bright it seems as its waters break up the sunbeams into numberless rainbows and the birds perch on its edge to drink of the cool, shining water! The fountain always has an ample supply of water, not only for the birds, but also for the children warm from their play, the worn and weary men, and the thirsty women longing for surcease from the heat. What a happy time it seems to have, laughing and brilliant, this fountain, never thinking that perhaps it should give less, that it might run out of water, never fearing that its efforts may be wasted, that perhaps no one will come to drink of the water, or even to enjoy the beauty of the fountain and be refreshed by the picture it makes in its lovely setting.
Oh, no, this fountain just goes on sending forth its streams, leaving the feed pipes to care for its supply. That is the business of the pipes. The fountain need only give; and, giving, it attracts not only those in immediate need of refreshment, but also those who find rest and joy in only watching the beautiful sight it makes as it meets the needs of others, who may later, when in need, remembering, return to drink of the water. The one and only task which the fountain has to perform is that of being the channel for the distribution of the water which the feed pipes send to it.
Often we may learn a helpful lesson from the fountain. Do we at times fear that our supply may run short, that the channel for it may become clogged or obstructed by one of a number of things, such as a business slump, loss of position, lack of cooperation on the part of fellow-workers sickness, accident, or misfortune? Then let us turn to the fountain and strive to emulate its freedom from worry over its supply. In Christian Science we are learning more and more clearly that our supply is from God; that it is His work to give us this supply. When God created man, He gave him life eternal, which necessarily includes supply for all times, even for to-day. We are realizing that our part in this matter is to accept and use that which God has already provided for us. The question of creating the supply is not ours to answer. Our part is to make good use of the supply which Love is constantly pouring out to us through His infinite channels.
