La Sierra College - Meteor Yearbook (Arlington, CA)

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Oh, but Judyl Surely you understand what he meant, he- Of course he meant just what he said, and it is the only principle l can ever live by. You see- she hesitated, it's hard for me to explain, I-l'm afraid you won't understand. UGO ahead, Bessie encouraged. lt's just that l've never known anyone the least bit like you before. I suppose that's true, and you see, it's just as hard for me to understand you- all of you, on this question of standards. lt took only a moment for Judith to unlock her jewel case and slip two beautiful rings on her finger. As she held up her hand with its ruby and diamond for Bessie's inspection she said simply, Now l have them on, and a moment ago I didn't, but l'm just the same-no better and no worse. How could they possibly make. any difference? She stood idly twisting the great diamond. And of course, there's Joeg he's not an Adventist, but-well, he'll be more likely to be one with me than without me, and anyway he couldn't ever come between me and-well, what l got this morning. So now you know it all, Bessie. That is the decision l have come to, but don't explain to the others. They wouldn't understand, every and it would be so easy for them to misunderstand. As she spoke, Judy began idly gathering up the pages of the letter to her mother. At last she glanced up apologetically at her silent room mate. Sorry, Bessie dear, that l've made such a mess of trying to explain. Poor mother: it's quite a letter, isn't it? hlost of it is about the change of the Sabbath. After all, it isn't a had way to get a Bible doctrine's lesson. But all of it wasn't about the change of the Sabbath, and Judy glanced anxiously through the first few pages again. TJIEAREST MOTHER: VVell, it has happened-the very thing that you teasingly, mock- ingly warned me against just before you kissed me good-bye a few months ago. How we did laugh together at the suggestion that l might ever become a Seventh-Day Adventist. VVell, lllother, l'm it. Head over heels, heart and soul. Just think, lllother, the Gospel to all the world in this generation. Now l have something big enough to hold me. I'll be safe at home-there in Hollywood-now, but please don't send for me for l have so much to learn yet. But don't worry, lllother, for I won't come home a bundle of inhibitions with religious scruples to interfere with almost everything. That isn't my idea of religion. lt's positive to me-full of things to do instead of things not to do. I'll dress just as l always did and enjoy the same amusements with you and Constance and Joe. But Oh, l have so much to tell you about- Judy skipped hurriedly through the letter, folded it carefully and slipped it in the big envelope. Well, that's done, she commented in a satisfied tone with a glance at her roommate, and l'm going to give a Bible reading at Pedley on this very subject tomorrow afternoon. You know l've been singing over there for the meetings and today l asked Richard if l couldn't go along tomorrow and help give out handbills. Page Fifleen

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They 1f 1'll Take Care of Tlzefzzselfuesn By PAULINI5 STURGES But- Bessie hesitated, deeply concerned. l'm afraid you don't understand just all that it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist, Judy. There's the question of standards, you know. Judith looked up quickly from the letter she was writing and bestowed a radiant smile on her worried roommate. That's one thing I don't have to worry about, she said simply, and bent over her letter again. Bessie, studying her closely, moved uneasily. But, Judy, she ventured again, with your folks and everything I think it's going to be more difficult than you think. Judith pushed back her letter, got to her feet, and stood for a moment regarding her roommate speculatively. VVhen she spoke it was slowly, thoughtfully. 'I believe l'll tell you, she said. Bessie leaned forward eagerly. She had scarcely been able to believe her eyes when she had seen Judy rise joyously to her feet in response to Elder Burton's call, made that day in the college chapel. Judy, standing there triumphantly, her head held high, her blue eyes dark with excitement and happiness. Bessie had caught her breath quicklyg she had never before seen anything quite like that-the way Judy looked. And she still looked that way. There beside the table her eyes were wide with wonder and glorified with happiness. l'm going to try and make you understandfl she went on, but you mustn't tell anyone else. You know how I've struggled all this week, wanting to accept Christ and believing all the points of your doctrine, but so-well, so hopelessly confused on these questions of standards. Of course l conform to them here in the dormitory, but as far as questions of right and wrong are con- cerned, l-H But Judy, Bessie broke in quickly, that's just it, l felt-U VVait a minute, Bess, give me a chance. That's a dear. Hear me out and then pronounce judgment. Only it won't make any difference what you say, not really. l'm so-unbelievably happy. Judy closed her eyes for a moment and repeated softly, And l, if l be lifted up, will draw all men unto me. She opened her eyes quickly, there was a great wonder in their depths. l had no idea that there were such beautiful things in the Bible, and all the time lilder Burton was talking on that text, l was being drawn mightily. Still, 1 was so worried about these other things-not that l minded giving them up, only l couldn't see that they were important at all. Then he said-I could scarcely believe my ears, but he did say it-'All you need to do is to give yourself wholly to Christ, you need not worry about standards-they will take care of themselvesf Well, I can't tell you how l felt when he said that. Honest, I never before experienced such a feeling of relief, and joy, and Peace as- I'r1g1' l o1lrlee11,

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You're all right, commented Bessie as she snuggled down among the pillows, but it's awfully dusty and remember there aren't any sidewalks. Oh, but I must know a lot before I go home Christmas. Bessie sat up with a jerk. You're some combination, Judy. Here you expect to convert your family and all your friends during the holidays and yet you are going to join with them in the social whirl, doing all the things that Adventists positively forbid. Adventists don't dance, they don't- . But, Bessie, we've discussed all that before. To me dancing has no more connection with religion than eating. lXIy mother is the lovelist woman in all the world and I couldn't ever go anywhere, I couldn't stay at home without seeming odd, if I disapproved of these things. It's all in the way you've been raised, Bessie -how you look at it. Bessie regarded her roommate for a long time, then she said simply, You can't do these things and be a Christian. You just wait and see. Judy answered the challenge with her head held high. I'll come back from the holidays, she said confidently, a better and stronger Christian than I am now. ik iii' 'X Constance Atherton stood before her mother, tense and furious, her lips pressed into a thin, straight line. I can't stand it another minute, lkfother. If Judith goes to the llieredith dance tonight, I'lI stay at home. She makes it so embarrassing. VVhy, she never talks about another thing but 'this generation' and 'the gospel to all the world,' and 'the population of India, and-Oh, I just can't stand it, lllother. And I don't know what Joe will ever' say about the ringf, The ring ? questioned hlrs. Atherton. Yes, didn't she tell you? Why, when she went to church Saturday there was a missionary from India who talked on the great needs of that Held and Judy says that when she was getting the money she had out of her purse, she saw her two rings and what did she do but put them both in the collection plate. Oh, surely not, Pilrs. Atherton interrupted. Yes, she did and she had to walk home because she hadn't saved a nickel for carfare. Dad wants to get her another just like it before Joe gets here but she says Joe will be glad, too, when he hears about the great need and it wouldn't do any good to get her another one because she might drop it in sometime, too. I don't know what has come over her or- Down the hall floated a rich contralto voice. It rang out strong and clear and every word could be heard distinctly: Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go, Anywhere He leads me in this world belowf' lVIrs. Atherton looked at her radiant daughter as she appeared in the doorway and caught her breath sharply. She had not realized that Judith was so extravagantly beautiful. Under one bare white arm was tucked a small black book. Constance saw it instantly. VVell, Judy, what in the world do you have there ? Page Sixteen