Welcome to "Tuesday Morning"—an epistle of encouragement for Christians everywhere.

 

Bruce Barton (1886-1967) was an American writer, editor, advertising executive, and two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives. During the middle third of the last century he became widely known as an author of bestselling guides to personal and professional success. His most famous book, The Man Nobody Knows, led to other writings with a distinctly Judeo/Christian flavor. Among his many inspirational quotes is this one:

 

"If you have anything really valuable to contribute to the world, it will come through the expression of your own personality--that single spark of divinity that sets you off and makes you different from every other living creature."

 

This week's "Tuesday Morning" is a reprint of one of his inspirational essays taken from Scripture. I have named it, "A Tale of Two Seas." It is attached below. Read on whenever you are ready, and then let God speak to you about the importance of "giving and living."

 

 

Tom Barnard

A Senior Encourager

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A Tale of Two Seas

Bruce Barton

 

 

There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh, and fish are in it.

Splashes of green adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it,

And stretch out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters.

 

Along its shores the children play, as children played when He was there.

He loved it. He could look across its silver surface when He spoke His parables.

And on a rolling plain not far away He fed five thousand people.

 

The river Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills.

Men build their houses next to it, and birds build their nests;

And every kind of life is happier because it is there.

 

The river Jordan flows on south into another sea.

Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds,

no children’s laughter.

Travelers choose another route, unless on urgent business.

The air hangs heavy above its water, and neither man nor beast,

 nor foul will drink.

 

What makes this mighty difference in these neighboring seas?

Not the river Jordan. It empties the same good water into both.

Not the soil in which they lie; not the country round about.

 

This is the difference: The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan.

For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out.

 

The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously.

It will not be tempted into any generous impulse.

Every drop it gets, it keeps.

 

The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. This other sea gives nothing.

It is named The Dead.

 

There are two seas in Palestine.

 

There are two kinds of people in the world.

 

Of which kind are you? 

 

This is a cutting from The Treasure Chest, Charles L. Wallis, editor. Harper and Row, Publisher: New York, 1965, page 149.