I sat by the fire mourning the mistakes and failures of the past, with only the ever-watchful "Eye" for company. Suddenly a voice within conversed with me, yet not a "voice" but rather another part of me, which put its thoughts within the brain beside of mine.
"Regret not what is done and cannot be undone. Lo! while you sit brooding here, gray shapes of doubt, fear and disappointment fly from your brain to lay their weight of care on other minds and so increase the sorrow of the world."
My answer was "If I do not repent what I have done, how shall the lessons of my life's mistakes be graven deep enough upon my soul."
The voice replied "Write them upon your heart in words of fire, but with rejoicing that you thus have gained further illumination for your way ahead which yet is dimly lit. No weak repiner gains the Gates of Gold, no feeble arm can raise its mighty bars; think you of this and learn your lessons well."
Gold and silver rays flashed through the air. The "Eye" watched closely, and seemed to glow with phosphorescent light. Therefore I turned my thoughts upon the Master, striving to place his face before me.
Then the face of a dear Friend, who is not known on this material plane, came up before me, and my whole heart went out to him.
"Dear Friend," I thought, "if I could have a moment's converse with you face to face, as man to man, without a veil between, the force you have would bear me like a mighty tide, to heights I never dreamed of scaling."
Again the voice spoke, "You know not what you ask; that force you speak of might shake your nature to its very depths. And do you know what demons might fly out from thence to torment and assail you? Are you strong enough for these? But since the soul has power of choice, say for yourself, whether you will or not! But think of this, if for the personal gain you will risk the personal loss, will you risk losing some future power to aid your brothers?"
I felt abashed, ashamed. Beside me I saw a golden light. I closed my eyes and said, "No, I dare not, dear Friend, come not yet!"