NewThoughtLibrary.com / DivineLibrary.org

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 heartthrobs 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