Speed--and Direction

In the long process of learning and preparing, young people often feel both pressure and impatience⎯sometimes so much so that delays of difficulties may cause them to quit, to give up too easily their pursuit of some good goal. Setbacks and uncertainties may cause a student to leave school too soon. Values may get out of focus because of problems or disappointments, and immediate things may seem more important than permanent purposes. In such situations there is danger of short-sighted decisions.

The unexpected almost always enters into any life, and impatience must be tempered and enduring qualities of character and a farseeing sense of values. While it is good to go as far as we can and as fast as we can, as soon as we can, we need also to be willing to work and willing to wait, and should not too hastily set aside good plans for something secondary. “I have endeavored to impress upon minds of youth,” said Heber J. Grant, “the necessity of . . . working to the extent of their ability; and also while so laboring never to become disheartened.”

What if something solid and superior does take a little longer⎯even a lot longer! “There is more to life than increasing its speed,” said Mahatma Gandhi. Direction is more important than speed, and one of the worst things of all is to go fast in the wrong direction. We arrive at no good if we do not keep our course. Preparation is more important than speed. “The future,” said Emerson, “belongs to those who prepare for it.”

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”⎯these words of Paul commend to us patience, perseverance, a reaching for perfection, and avoiding hasty, short-sighted decision. “No life ever grows great,” said Dr. Fosdick, “until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.”

You who are young: Keep your courage, keep your character and conviction; keep moving forward, and don’t let passing circumstances easily discourage you from pursuing a good goal. In an age of speed, may God help us to keep clearly in mind the direction in which we are going, as well as the rate at which we go.