NUGGETS OF THE NEW THOUGHT/PART 15
THE UNSEEN HAND.
The consciousness of the hand—When it first was felt—Always there—Now as
the hand of a father—Now as that of a mother—A lover—A brother—Always
guiding—Always leading—A mystery—Some day we will know the owner of the hand.
I have
felt the Unseen Hand—have been guided by it—have felt the kind but steady urge
in the direction which it knew to be best, though my Intellect failed to see
the beauty of the road toward which the Hand was directing me. For a time I
rebelled against the impertinent interference of that which seemed to be a
thing apart from me—a meddler—an unasked for helper. I had emerged from the
dependent state—the state in which I thought it necessary to lean upon others.
I gloried in my independence—my freedom—my ability to stand alone. Finding that
it was good to stand alone—reveling in the joy of my new found
freedom—rejoicing in the fact that the I AM within me was a reality—feeling
within me the ecstasy that comes from the recognition of the reality of
Individuality—I resented any interference from outside. But the pressure of the
hand was still here—it would take my unwilling fingers within its own and lead
me on—and lead me on.
Finding
that I could not get rid of this unseen helper—realizing that it was intent
upon guiding me in spite of my repeated assertions that I was able to take care
of myself—that I was big enough to walk alone—I began to study the Something
that was so determined to take an active part in the affairs of my life—I
started in to become acquainted with it.
I found
that it had always been with me more or less, but that I had not before
recognized its presence. So long as I felt that I was not able to stand erect
upon my feet—so long as I feared—so long as I failed to recognize the I AM—I
was scarcely aware of this invisible helper. But when I began to realize what I
was—what was my place in the Universal order of things—what were my
possibilities—my future—the presence of this unseen hand began to be manifest.
When I at length threw off the last fetter that had bound me—when I threw back
my shoulders and drew my first free breath—when I shouted aloud with joy at my
freedom and strength—when I realized the power that was within me and at my command—when
I started out to accomplish that which my awakened mind told me was possible of
attainment—when I started to do these things all by myself—then I
felt for the first time the firm clasp of the unseen hand.
Now gently
guiding—now leading—now kindly restraining—now giving a gentle urge toward
people, things and conditions—now drawing me back from the edge of a
precipice—now directing toward a better path—now giving me a gentle, firm
pressure to reassure me of its presence when I doubted—now allowing me to rest
my weight upon it when I felt tired—always there.
At times
this hand has placed before me conditions that seemed to me to be anything but
good. At times it has brought me pain. But I have learned to trust it—have
learned to trust it. The conditions that have seemed to me to be undesirable
have brought me to desirable things. The pain that I have suffered has brought
me pleasure. The experiences that have come to me I would not wish to part
with—the more pain, the more experience; the more experience, the more
knowledge.
I have
learned to love this hand. And the owner of the hand seems to feel and return
this love, and now and then, by a sympathetic little clasp, lets me know that I
am understood. This hand sometimes seems to be that of a Father—strong and
firm—leading on with a confident air. Again it seems to be that of a
Mother—gentle and kind—leading me as does the mother lead her child. Again it
seems as the hand of a woman who loves me—clinging and warm—neither leading nor
being led—just moving on clasped in mine—no words—but with a perfect
understanding. The owner of this hand seems to combine within itself the
qualities of both sexes—seems to have within itself all the attributes of
Father, Mother, Lover, Brother, Sister. It seems to respond to the human need,
in every direction. It seems always the hand of Love—even while giving me pain.
I have
never seen the face of the owner of this hand. I have never looked into its
eyes. I have never seen its form, if form it has. But I have been conscious, at
times, of being lifted up in its arms and being pressed close to its breast. I
have felt the impulse of the child, at such times, and have felt for the breast
of the mother, and have been conscious of the answering mother pressure as I
was drawn up close to the body of the owner of the hand. And, at times, have I
felt rebellious at the confining clasp, and have struggled and have even beat
against the breast with my puny fists as I insisted that I be released from the
clasping arms. But, mother-like, the owner of the hand only drew me closer to
the breast until I could feel the very heart-throbs within the
mother-body—could feel the vibrations emanating from its life—could feel the
warm breath upon my cheek as the invisible face bent over me impelled by the
mother love.
Again, it
takes on the father-form, and I place my little hand within it, and feeling
like the boy whose father is taking him on a journey, I say "Lead Thou me
on," and go cheerfully and with faith into new lands—new surroundings—new
fields. Why should I fear, have I not hold of my father's hand? And the hand at
such times rests upon my shoulder, every once in a while, and I realize that
the father feels a pride in his son, and sees him growing in strength and
knowing—that the father looks forward to a time when he will be able to talk
with the boy who will then have grown in knowledge, and will be able to
understand some of the secrets of Life that the father will then unfold to him.
And, still
again, the hand is that of the loving woman who is walking along the path of
Life with the man she loves. It is a tender clasp—the fingers tingle with
love—the arm presses close to mine. I hear no voice—no words are needed—soul
talks to soul in the silence. We walk on and on and on. We understand.
And, still
again, the hand seems that of a brother—a twin brother. Neither the protection
of the father—the loving tenderness of the mother—the thrill of the lover's
touch—is there. I feel not that the hand is that of a stronger being—I am
conscious only of the brotherly clasp—the touch of comradeship—the presence of
an equal. I feel by my side a helper—someone who will back me up in time of
need. And I stroll along by his side and laugh with joy. The joy of the boy is
again mine. The joy of companionship is again mine. And, lo the hand of the
brother seems to grow—he and I are again men. And something in his hand-clasp
seems to say to me, "Come, brother, let us go forth into the unknown
future. Let us have Faith. There are lands awaiting our coming. Let us enjoy
them. Let us explore them. Let us be filled with the spirit of adventure, and
go forth. Let us see—let us feel—let us know." And I return the clasp, and
say, "Aye, brother, let us go forth. Whither thou goest there will I go.
Thy joys shall be my joy—thy pain my pain. Let us go forth—let us go forth to
the Divine Adventure."
And, so,
manifesting the attributes of all human relations, in turn, and at the proper
time, the owner of this unseen hand is near me. I feel his presence—I am aware
of his nearness. At times faith grows faint, and I think it all a delusion—a
phantasm—a dream. All seems lost, and I weep. But, lo! in the midst of my
despair, I feel the hand upon my head—I know that it is a reality and, through
my tears, I smile.
Shall I
ever know the owner of this hand? Shall I ever see its face? Shall I ever
understand the mystery of its existence? I know not. But faith whispers in my
ear, "Wait! All is well! When the pupil is ready the Master appears. When
your eyes have a clear vision and can bear the sight, then shall you see the
Face of the owner of the hand. You have entered the Path and there is no
turning back. Go on—go on in Faith, Courage and Confidence. Why should you
doubt—have you not felt the pressure of The Hand?"
Aye, why
should I doubt or question? Have I not felt the pressure of the Unseen Hand?
Open your hands, friends, that the Hand may clasp yours as it has mine. While
your hand is clenched in Anger and Hate—while it clutches tight the gold it has
snatched from the hand of another—while the fingers are drawn together with
Fear—it cannot receive the Unseen Hand. Open it wide—reach it out—offer it in
friendly clasp—and you will feel within it the touch of that which you seek.
The Unseen
Hand is waiting to clasp yours. Give it welcome—give it welcome.
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