Much of the northwestern part of the United States felt the fall-out of dust from the volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Dust, in some places to the depth of a foot or more, covered roads and airports, disrupting traffic. It fell on yards and fields, ruining vegetation and short-circuiting electrical power bringing darkness and distress in many areas.

"But this is a world where dust is found everywhere, because disintegration is the universal rule. The hardest rock, the loftiest mountains, are gradually crumbling into tiny particles which float everywhere. And these are the witness of death—decay, which is everywhere present.

"Dust thus speaks of death, the opposite of life, and it tells of separation from the source of all life, love and blessing. It speaks of the things of this world, in contrast with the things of God.

"For dust then to settle upon us means for the heart to be engrossed with the things that are not "really life," and which hinder communion with our blessed Lord. We need not say how easy this is.

"But how can it be avoided? The things that float in through every avenue to the heart must be watched and judged. Let us lay aside every weight. Today we have judged and put from us that worldly walk, that selfishness, the hard, unforgiving spirit. If these had been allowed to remain they would quickly have marred the joy of the Lord in our hearts. So we must take the dustcloth of self-judgment, and remove those disfiguring blemishes.

"If it be said, 'It is only a little thing,' 'It makes very little difference' etc., we must remember that it mars communion and hinders spiritual joy and growth. What only our eye can detect will soon be manifest to all, if allowed to accumulate and clog the spiritual life.

"Did you ever meet a Christian in communion with the Lord? How bright the soul! What love and peace are manifest! How easy and how pleasant to engage in conversation about the things of Christ! How hard on the other hand if the soul is out of communion! Talk about the weather, about politics, about frivolity, and there is freedom. But let the precious name of the Lord Jesus be mentioned, and there is a hush. What is the cause? Dust! And until that dust is removed by hearty confession and turning to the Lord, our souls will be like an unsightly room all covered over with dust.

"'Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.' (Psalm 119:9)."

—S. Ridout