physical. Physiological processes with certain inevitable psychological
accompaniments are at the bottom of it. Because their natures have not
received their natural fulfillment a complicated situation has arisen
which cannot be easily lived through, though it may be in the end
triumphantly controlled. And if it helps ordinary people to learn that
sometimes when they seem to be suffering from a sense of sin they are
really only being plagued by indigestion, it may very much more help
women in this difficult period to know that they are only going through
an inevitable physical readjustment. What is happening is that sexual
desire--it may be in vague, unconscious, and very general forms--is
asserting itself. Nothing could be more absurd than to suggest that
there is anything wrong or immodest in that fact. It is quite
inevitable. Indeed, the first step out of the trouble lies in accepting
the fact and then in considering how it is to be dealt with.

What is the way out of this difficult bit of life? All said that can be
said about the physical and psychological causes, a very real problem
remains. There must be a way of meeting it which ends in complete
victory, for women who have come through it victoriously are to be
found on all hands. What has been the secret of their victory? I prefer
to let a woman begin the answer. "I think," writes one, "that the only
possible thing for such women to do is to have their eyes fixed on God,
and to know that in some mysterious and wonderful way He understands
and meets all our needs. I think it needs a definite act--of our wills,
our intellects, and our emotions--an act of consecration and
self-offering to God, and until that is done there will be no peace."
And then, after expressing her conviction as to the insufficiency of
the policy of mere sublimation she continues, "I really believe that
for women a real act of surrender--a joyful offering to God--is the
only way."