Some Sudden, Sobering Fact to Face   February 7, 1971

A “life to live! We all want to do our best with it. We all want to make the most of it,” wrote one earnest searching person. “The question is not how much time have we? —for in...

I'm Busy. Don't Bother Me Now.   January 31, 1971

We often are aware of impatience with other people’s questions, with other people’s problems ⎯ with an obvious “I’m busy, don’t-bother-me-now” attitude....

Two Kinds of Pollution   January 24, 1971

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”1 Then later this follows in the account of the creation: “And God saw everything that he had mad, and, behold, it was very...

The Desire to Be Appreciated   January 17, 1971

“The deepest hunger in human beings,” said William James, “is the desire to be appreciated.”1 A wife, a mother, can put up with faults and imperfections ⎯ with inadequate...

All This Is Part of Happiness…   January 10, 1971

There is a whimsical sentence from Kin Hubbard which says: “It’s pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness. Poverty an’ wealth have both failed.”1 Beginning sendings more...

Forgiving Others---Forgiving Ourselves   January 3, 1971

“A person’s ability to forgive is in proportion to the greatest of his soul. Little men cannot forgive.”1 “Tell them,” said a beloved associated, “tell them to...

And So We Search…   December 27, 1970

“Years following years steal something every day. At last they steal us from ourselves away:”1 These lines from Horace in some ways may be so — that each passing day steals something...

There Is No Unimportant Person   December 13, 1970

As we remember the words of the Master of mankind, the poor in spirit come to mind at this moment. Whatever else it may mean, there are many who are downhearted and discouraged, who feel little...

Too Many Days at a Time   December 6, 1970

I heard a beloved associate say this to someone who was deep in sorrow from the loss of a loved one: “Don’t try to live too many days at a time,” 1 This counsel could well carry...

The Hurts of the Heart   November 29, 1970

There are physical hurts in life, accidents, illness, financial misfortunes, which men often manage to survive. But there are hurts of the heart that pull people down in deep discouragement,...

What We Don't Use Wastes Away   November 22, 1970

From Hippocrates there is a sentence which says, “What we use flourishes. What w don’t use wastes away.”1 One way of expressing gratitude would be to use well what we have—material...

In a Crowd…   November 15, 1970

In writing of The School of Life, Henry Van Dyke made this observation: “You may have to live in a crowd, but you do not have to live like it, . . .”1 This is one of the most important...

Bypassing Penalties?   November 8, 1970

There is a remarkable sentence from Plato concerning a reason for not doing wrong. “If I were sure God would pardon me,” he said, “and men would not know my sin, yet I should be...

Twixt Will and Will Not   November 1, 1970

You Can Go On   October 25, 1970

There are many in this world who live heroically in simple, daily, faithful service⎯people often unknown; often unnoticed; often discouraged; sometimes tried and tempted; sometimes feeling they must...

The Sum of Our Decisions   October 18, 1970

“No one can ask honestly or hope fully to be delivered from temptation,” said John Ruskin, “unless he has himself honestly and firmly determined to do the best he can to keep out...

There Is Much Said That Isn't So   October 11, 1970

We live in a time of much talk, with opinions often expressed, sometimes without much substance, and rumors that swiftly circulate, because someone heard that someone said that something is so⎯and...

And Give Me Yesterday   October 4, 1970

Some three centuries ago Thomas Browne said: “There is another man within me that’s angry with me.”1 This is descriptive of the uneasiness of those who fail to find peace inside...

Unless They Practice What They Preach   September 27, 1970

To quote a very simple couplet from a current source: “Parents can tell, but never teach, unless they practice what they preach.”1 This doesn’t apply only to parents, but is true...

Debt…"a Tanglesome Net"   September 20, 1970

It has been long since Samuel Johnson said, “Do not accustom yourself to consider debt only as an inconvenience; or you will find it a calamity.”1 In a world that needs so much to search...