paths on which one ought not to wander are, as it were, hedged off
with thorns; but that on the other side great obstacles are suddenly
removed; that when the time has come for something, one suddenly
receives a courage that formerly failed, or perceives the root of a
matter that until then was concealed, or discovers thoughts, talents,
yea, even pieces of knowledge and insight, in one's self, of which it
is impossible to say whence they come; finally, that persons help us or
decline to help us, favor us or refuse us, as if they had to do so
against their will, so that often those indifferent or even unfriendly
to us yield us the greatest service and furtherance. (God takes often
their worldly goods, from those whom he leads, at just the right
moment, when they threaten to impede the effort after higher interests.)

"Besides all this, other noteworthy things come to pass, of which it is
not easy to give account. There is no doubt whatever that now one
walks continually through 'open doors' and on the easiest roads, with
as little care and trouble as it is possible to imagine.

"Furthermore one finds one's self settling one's affairs neither too
early nor too late, whereas they were wont to be spoiled by
untimeliness, even when the preparations had been well laid. In
addition to this, one does them with perfect tranquillity of mind,
almost as if they were matters of no consequence, like errands done by
us for another person, in which case we usually act more calmly than
when we act in our own concerns. Again, one finds that one can WAIT
for everything patiently, and that is one of life's great arts. One
finds also that each thing comes duly, one thing after the other, so
that one gains time to make one's footing sure before advancing
farther. And then every thing occurs to us at the right moment, just
what we ought to do, etc., and often in a very striking way, just as if
a third person were keeping watch over those things which we are in
easy danger of forgetting.

"Often, too, persons are sent to us at the right time, to offer or ask
for what is needed, and what we should never have had the courage or
resolution to undertake of our own accord.

"Through all these experiences one finds that one is kindly and
tolerant of other people, even of such as are repulsive, negligent, or
ill-willed, for they also are instruments of good in God's hand, and
often most efficient ones. Without these thoughts it would be hard