48 TheSpiritualLife.
such moments therecalling of past periods of
gloomisoftenuseful,sothathappinessmaynot
become elation, norenjoyment leadto attach-
menttopleasure; balancing thepresent joyby
thememoryof past troubleand thecalmpre-
visionoftroubleyettocome,wereachequilibrium
and finda middle point of rest; wecanthen
gain alltheadvantagesthat accruefromseizing
a favourable opportunity for progress withoutriskingaslipbackwardsfromprematuretriumph.
Whenthenightcomesdownandallthelirehas
ebbedaway,whenwefind ourselvescold and
indifferent, caring for nothing that had erst
attracted us, then, knowing the law, yfe can
quietly say: "This also willpass inits turn,
lightandlifemustcomeback,andtheold love
will againglowwarmlyforth." Wereruse to
beundulydepressedinthegloom,aswerefused
tobeundulyelatedinthelight; webalanceone
experienceagainsttheother,removingthethorn
ofpresentpainbythe memory ofpast joyand
the foretasteof joyin the future; welearn in
happinesstoremembersorrowandinsorrowto
rememberhappiness,tillneithertheonenorthe
othercanshakethesteadyfootholdofthesoul.