Chart No. 1: The Vital Creative Flame

youth spent in learning and education give us hardly a hint of Life's Mystery which sustains us in our pursuit of knowledge.

Such is the paradox which comforts while it mocks. Life is still the Sphinx^[1] of the ages. Who can answer its riddle?

Has the cornerstone of Life been neglected in all our learning and education? Are we more interested in things, or in Life? Is the Giver the object of our search, or the gifts? Where is our heart in this matter? Is it Life or matter which we really want? Is our goal an education in book learning only, or an understanding of Life? We obtain what we strive for earnestly, that is the law; for "Life is real! Life is earnest!" (Longfellow).^[2]

When Truth is presented to our mind and consciousness, have we a dial and wavelength of reception for it in our make-up and in our background with which to tune in? Or have we too many private wires of interest in comparatively trivial matters, which keep It out? Have we the time or an ear for Truth? Can we recognize its face in any other dress but the one we have put on our ideals and ideas of Truth? How can It be found and by whom? Has Truth or Understanding favorites like the gods of old had, or can any devotee attain that shrine and sanctuary of his devotion?

All these questions have the same answer as our everyday problems. Who can get an education, who will succeed and why? It is those who make the effort and at the same time keep their attention on the goal. The law of Attention, Interest and Effort is the only requisite for all real soul growth and understanding; that, of course, includes the proper attitude of mind.

Success is the attainment of any goal we set for ourselves, even as a ship's captain selects a port nearby, or one far away, and arrives there in good time. Naturally, our direction under full steam must never vary, or we would not only be off course but might even find ourselves rushing in the opposite direction. To apply power and speed before we have set our goal is to flounder uselessly; but to set the goal first and then proceed under proper guidance, is the certain and ideal way.

Such is the majesty of our ship of Life, propelled by Vitality, our friend and stranger of many years. We sail and sail, but the harbor of Truth is an unknown port. Even good sailors and seekers can pass by the north star, if the compass of thinking and the rigging of our sails of the life breath are not set

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¹ The Sphinx is a mythological creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. It shows up in many ancient cultures, but the Greek sphinx in particular is associated with riddles. If a person could not correctly answer a sphinx's riddle, they would be killed and eaten.
² From "A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882).