Some time ago I visited a brother in the Lord who had used his sawmill for the manufacture of
broom handles. Seeing the rough appearance of the broom handles as they came from the saw and
lathe, I asked the brother how they were made smooth enough for use. "Oh, I will show you," he
replied; he then grasped an armful and placed them in a revolving cylinder. In a very brief time
he stopped the cylinder and, to my amazement, he took them out quite smooth in appearance and
feeling. He had done this that they might rub each other smooth.

"Ah," said I, "here is a good lesson for us as to the ways of the Lord with us, His people, and I
understand better than ever what it is to ‘endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit.’ When God’s
grace has saved a man, and made him personally fit to go to heaven, cleansed by the Saviour’s
blood, and with a nature capable of enjoying it, He next sees fit to put him into such circumstances
on earth as thus serve him a good purpose, like this smoothing process." Thus it is, beloved
brethren, that we are put, by His divine and unerring hand of love and wisdom, into association
with many in the body of Christ who daily try and exercise our hearts, that in the workings of His
grace we may "rub each other smooth." Even so, Father, may our hearts respond!