STEPPING out into the street one day, the writer found herself surrounded by a mist; only for a short distance ahead could she see the way. Yet, knowing that the road, trees, flowers, and cars were all in their accustomed places, even though she could not see them, she started forward. As she did so, the road cleared before her; and always she could see her way clearly enough to go on without fear or hesitation. When she arrived at the corner where she was accustomed to board a street car, she found the car waiting as usual. After riding a short distance, she looked out of the window to find that the mist had entirely cleared away.
This mist might be likened to the sense-testimony which frequently tries to make us believe that we lack health, harmony, peace, or something else which is right and needful; that all of these are not always present. It might well be likened to the testimony which says that we are surrounded by an indefinable something which has place and power, and which will harm us in some way if we do not listen to it, or if we venture to go forward regarding it as nothing. But the one sure thing about this testimony is that it is false; that it is absolutely without foundation or power, and that it can do nothing. The mist had not the power to destroy the trees, or the road, or anything else, although it hid them for a moment in a futile attempt to make one believe they were not present, and so perhaps cause him to stand helplessly and possibly fearfully, when he should be going forward confidently and fearlessly.
One of the arguments of material sense testimony, like one of the arguments of the mist, is that if we venture to take the few steps ahead which are visible, we may then be swallowed up in chaos. Error is always going to do something; it never really does anything, but it is always going to do something if—but that is as far as it ever goes. The children of Israel had this argument presented to them in the attempt of evil to frighten them back again into bondage, and away from their rightful freedom.
