The Pulpit Speaks: August 1, 1959

An article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.

The presence of hypocrisy today is appalling! Everyone wants to be hiding behind something. Deep down within us, we like to think that we are getting away with something nobody knows but us. This has been historically true. Adam hid himself behind a deep-seated curiosity. Elijah hid himself in a cave. Men, time and time again, have hidden themselves in one way or another. We get a joy – a real joy – out of hiding ourselves.

A few generations ago, men sang, “Oh the rocks and the mountains shall all fade away and you shall have no hiding place that day!” Today there are those of us who are hiding behind the rocks and mountains but one of these days, these rocks and mountains will fade away. Unfortunately for many people, they wake up one day to find themselves standing naked before all of those about them.

To a large number of people, rocks and mountains express themselves in many forms. They may be hypocrisy, deceit, affection, well-wishes, and many more thing which lack the genuineness for which they are designed. There are thousands of people today who have you living under the illusion that they are with you – until such time as you will need them.

They are your friends until you need them, but in a time of need, they always find an easy way to leave. At this point, the rocks and mountains fade away. You thought that you had a friend only to find out that they were hiding behind something.

Years ago, a wise man said, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” A few days ago, I heard a man say that each of us would be surprised how few friends we actually have. What could be more tragic than to wake up one morning to find out that many of the acquaintances whom we have taken for friends have suddenly proved not so?

But it all boils down to just that. Many who have been traveling along with us have been going for any number of reasons. After Jesus fed the five thousand, many left to follow no more. They were friends until they got what they wanted.

How tragic it is that many times, in the hour of deepest need, many of those upon whom we have utmost confidence desert us. It is in this trying hour that the mountains and rocks fade away and we see life as it really is. Reality has a peculiar way of showing us exactly where we stand. Many times, fenced in by rocks and mountains, we get an exalted opinion of ourselves. When we are left alone – really alone – we see things as they really are.

Engulfed in rocks and mountains, many times we develop a sense of personal security. Sometimes we feel like we can get along without the assistance of others. It only takes a few lonely hours to bring us to our real senses.

Sometimes, in the presence of rocks and mountains, we move up into the clouds, living up and beyond certain things. Sometimes, our material, intellectual, social, and cultural standing become rocks and mountains for us. We can see nothing but these things. When suddenly, these things are moved from our little worlds – the rocks and mountains, if you please – we find that we are not what we thought we were.

In the final analysis, the fading of the rocks and mountains bring out the best in each of us. As long as we are sheltered, we feel a certain sense of security that, in many instances, does not really exist. We must arouse ourselves from their reliance, upon which may or may not be good for us.

We must rise above the rocks and mountains of deceit, hypocrisy, and all of those things that will eventually make for our downfall and bring ourselves to the fact that we must be realists and face life in its truest perspective.

Only in proportion that each man presents himself to his God, his fellow man, and himself in the truest perspective will life have any meaning for us and those with whom we come in contact. We must stand today – minus the rocks and mountains.

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