How beautiful, majestic, and awe inspiring are the Rocky Mountains of Colorado! Both winter and summer reveal sucn wonders in the "everlasting hills" that one is at a loss for words to express their grandeur. Small wonder that people come from all parts of the United States and foreign countries, traveling thousands of miles, to enjoy the glories of the awesome scenes these mountains reveal.
One clear autumn morning, the writer loaded his car with a number of school children to enjoy the day in the mountains. Joyous and happy as children usually are, none dreamed of the tragic incident that was to be experienced before the day was over.
The ride through Bear Creek Cation from Denver to Evergreen is awe inspiring. Sheer walls hundreds of feet high on either side speak of the power of the Creator who made all these wonders. When one nears Evergreen, the canon widens, and the landscape opens up a beautiful vista of mighty evergreens, firs and cedars. After we passed the little village of Evergreen, we wended our way up a branch of the creek, and found a beautiful sloping hillside, warm in the autumn sun, and a great rock that proved too inviting to pass.
Now, no mountain outing is complete without a fire, and the children busied themselves finding dry pine cones and bits of wood. What is more exhilarating than the smell of pine knots burning in the open! In examining the rock, we found at one end a cave about three feet high and decided it would be a good place for an open-air fireplace. Our calculation was right, for there was draft enough through to carry the smoke into the cave, and thus leave us to enjoy the fire.
Lunches were brought and spread on the ground. The fire had somewhat subsided, and only very hot glowing coals remained. Suddenly the laughter and merriment ceased. To our horror and amazement, out of the cave came a large rabbit, his eyes blinded by the smoke that had driven him to seek the open, and walked through the burning coals, already too overcome to run. After having passed through the fiery furnace, he succumbed, suffering a terrible death for which he was in no way responsible.
It made a very quiet dinner party for the time being; but children soon forget, and in a little while they were romping as usual. Not so with the writer. The thought came to mind how "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now," even the animals suffering because of man's disobedience.
There are times when one wants to be alone with his thoughts. What better place than the solitude of God's mighty outdoor cathedral—the trees and mountains? All nature is blighted more or less with the curse of sin, the innocent suffering with and for the guilty, disappointment on every hand, thoughts crowding in to overwhelm the soul. But a bright ray pierces the dark picture—the coming of the Mighty One, the Restorer of all things—Jesus!
Sitting in solitude—alone with God—with the above sad happening fresh in mind, "Longing" was born, expressive of the longing that every child of God experiences so often during his homeward journey to that land that knows no sorrow, no heartache, no disappointment.
As you sing "Longing," and remember the story of its origin, remember also the blessed promise, "God shall wipe away all tears, . . . and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:4.
Los Angeles, Calif.
* The story of the birth of a song makes its rendition so much more impressive and meaningful, and Brother De Fluiter, singing evangelist with Elder H. M. S. Richards, has here told the story of the origin of his song, "Longing," No. 117 in "The Gospel in Song."—Editors.
