Concerning Safety and Survival…

There was once perpetrated upon the public a two-word phrase that is contrary to truth and goodness and good sense: “Live dangerously.” Many do it, and many have done it⎯of which the rising accident rate is eloquent evidence, and of which there are other evidences also, with broken lives, broken bodies, and broken minds⎯and broken hearts⎯and senseless waste and sorrow.

Some of it may be unavoidable, so far as human power to prevent⎯but much of it comes from a brash or thoughtless or intemperate attitude toward life, from lack of calm purpose and calm consideration, and lack of understanding of the ultimate objective.

And it isn’t only with physical or mechanical mishaps that we are concerned. Many men live dangerously mentally and morally, and run contrary to the truth, contrary to the simple, ageless God-given commandments, and so create worries and frictions and tensions and troubles inside themselves⎯and outside also. Everyone who violates any valid law lives dangerously, because the very violation of law is evidence of an unsafe attitude.

There is no wisdom really in crowding corners, in scuffing against every obstacle, in contesting every right-of-way, in cutting to the unsafe side, in pushing headlong ever faster than the safe legal limits. (Nor even is there any wisdom in taking into ourselves things which are damaging or deteriorating.)

There is great, quiet sustaining strength and satisfaction in the calm and thoughtful living of life⎯in running sensibly in safe channels; but there is no satisfying happiness in the tensions and anxieties of an unsafe situation; there is no happiness in having to run away; there is no happiness in the fears of an unquiet conscience; there is no happiness in gambling away irreplacable things; there is no happiness in uncontrolled temper. There is no real happiness in a wildly flaming fire⎯excitement perhaps, but not happiness.

There are commandments; there are rules; there are laws; there are ways of quiet and considered safety that would lengthen out our lives and endear us to others and cut down the tragedies, the injuries, the illness, the accidents. And in contrast to the false and futile invitation to “live dangerously” we suggest simply for those who seek peace and health and happiness⎯and safety and survival: Live thoughtfully, with high purpose and a quiet conscience.