The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

532 THE FREEMAN SeptemberWe lie in the lap of immense intelligence,which makes us receivers ofits truth and organs of its activity.When we discern justice, when wediscern truth, we do nothing of ourselves,but allow. a passage of itsbeams. (Italics mine)I have quoted this before, certainthat it expressed an importanttruth. However, it took theremarks of a recent acquaintanceto .help me realize its full meaning.Thisindividual, as we met forthe first time, acknowledged howhelpful my writings had been, andthen added, pointing to the head,"It, is all here. You have merelyhelped me put together and to betterunderstand that which is alreadywithin me." This is an insightthat rivals Emerson's!Emerson's point now seemsclear to me and it helps to explainwhat stands between the attainableand its attainment: a failureto realize one's potential or an un-willingness to discover and to heedthe truths within.As Emerson so eloquentlyphrases it, we do, indeed, "lie inthe lap of an immense intelligence."As with all radiant energy,this intelligence is in constantmovement and it flowsthrough all life. The problem ofgaining understanding is one ofarresting "its beams," of interceptingor appropriating thatwhich already is within us or ispassing through us.We can be helpful to one another,not by posing as this intelligencebut by using, expressing,sharing such of this mysteriousenergy as we may be fortunateenough to intercept. Once this wayto enlightenment is perceived andpracticed - a near reversal ofpresent methods - then we maybefriend the poor, not merely inproclaimed intentions but in reality.Our hearts and heads will beworking in harmony. ~JDEAS ONLIBERTYFrom WithinNo CHURCH has ever gone into politics without coming out badlysmirched. Individual Churchmen may be, and ought to be, if theyare well informed, interested in schemes of social legislation; butto advocate a sloppy socialism~under the name of "Christian politicsand economics" is, in my opinion, an impertinence....Christianity aims at saving the soul- the personality, the natureof man, not his environment. In direct opposition to Marxiansocialism, we are taught that from within, out of the heart of man,comes all that can exalt or de,file him.WILLIAM RALPH INGE