The Solemnity of Youth

“Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” — Exod. hi. 5.

These words were first uttered to a nation’s youth. They are strange words to be addressed to youth of any sort. They are an exhortation to a feeHng of solemnity. We do not commonly think of youth as a solemn time. We expect it to be an ardent time, an enthusiastic time, a hopeful time; but the last thing we should associate with it is solemnity. And yet I think we are wrong. I believe youth to be the most solemn of all seasons — more solemn than the hour of death. There is an analogy between youth and death. Both are beginnings, enterings upon the unknown; but they are beginnings of a very different kind. In death I am passive; I am in the hands of One, and that One the highest. But in youth I am in the hands of three; I am between three currents — my brother, myself and God. And they are cross-currents; they are impelling different ways. Mine moves inward; my brother’s moves outward;

God’s moves upward. Death is not a battle-field; I am a captive there; God is all in all. But youth is a battle-field; God, my brother, and I, are on conflicting sides, and there is likely to be strife. No wonder I am solemn before the burning bush of the morning!

O thou, who standest before that glowing fire, put off thy shoes from off thy feet 1 My cry to thee beyond all things is, “Be solemn!” Many will tell thee to be aspiring; “the aspirations of youth” has become a proverbial phrase. And yet I think aspiration should be thy second thought. I would have thy first thought one of reverent fear. Many will bid thee mount up with eagle’s wings. I would have thee to feel at first a paralysis of the wings. The morning sun is beating upon thee and beckoning thee upward; God calls to thee out of the fire. But there are obstructions to thy flight; there are frictions of the air which impede thy soaring. There are winds of passion which would divert thee from thy sun. There are gusts of pride that would drive thee from thy goal. There are storms of temptation which fain would clog thy climbing. Life is more dangerous than death; thy wayward heart misguides thee; thy brother’s hand misleads thee. It is less fearful to be alone with thy God than to dwell in thy God’s The Solemnity of Youth

disputed presence. When thou standest by the beautiful gate of hfe’s temple, it is thy time to pray. Be it thine, like the angels, to veil thy face with thy wings ere thou fliest! Be it thine to hide thyself in the secret of God’s pavilion ere thou soarest into the sky! Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, for the place of the burning bush is arduous ground.