Habit: Servant or Master? November 17, 1963
“Habit,” said Nathaniel Emmons, “is either the best of servants or the worst of masters.” In considering this subject we often emphasize the negative side⎯habit as the...
A Time for Moving Forward December 1, 1963
We often need an inner searching, of ourselves⎯our lives, our habits, and a searching of our surroundings, with frank and thoughtful appraisal of our own performance. “‘Tis greatly wise...
The Forces of Fulfillment… December 8, 1963
In a rushing, pressuring time, we well would pause to remind ourselves that the purpose of life, the purpose of God is to see that men find their highest happiness, their best accomplishment, their...
The Tares and the Wheat December 15, 1963
Some thoughts from Phillips Brooks suggest the benefit and blessing of encouragement and the destructive force of overemphasizing the negative side. “Your child, your scholar, your servant⎯you...
Belonging… and… Believing December 22, 1963
There come to mind at this moment two great gifts. One is Belonging. Imagine the loneliness of not belonging—to someone, to something; not to have an obligation to others, or an interest in them—of...
Why Not Now? January 5, 1964
“Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, As the swift seasons roll!” This is more than a line of finely phrased poetry. It suggests we must not be indifferent, or resigned, or...
The Value of Routine January 12, 1964
We may hold things tightly for a limited time, but sometimes must relax to get a new hold. A new look at things, a new hold, is sometimes essential. But despite all this, there is value in routine...
Remember the End… January 19, 1964
We are reluctant to leave a changing season without some earnest searching of ourselves. “We ought daily to renew our vows,” said Thomas à Kempis, “and kindle our hearts . . . as...
This Matter of Money… January 26, 1964
There is always before us this matter of money _ and it seems that almost no one ever thought he had enough. In a letter to a noble lord, Edmund Burke wrote: “We spend our incomes…for a...
Burdens---and Faith and Hope February 2, 1964
Ventilation February 9, 1964
In “the pounding life inflicts upon us,” said an eminent physician, “Ventilation is deeply important…” referring, of course, to the opening up and airing out of our burdens,...
Strength and Struggle… February 16, 1964
A sentence from Longfellow suggests a subject: “Believe me, every man has his secret sorrows, which the world knows not; and oftentimes we call a man cold when he is only sad.” The fact...
The Meaning of Discipline February 23, 1964
One of the greatest blessings that can come into the life of any child or youth, or anyone else, is intelligent and constructive discipline⎯first the discipline of self, and second, as necessary,...
The Friends of the Young… March 1, 1964
One of the most effective ways of conditioning the character and conduct of children, of youth, as well as of others, is to be ourselves what we would have them to be—to be convincing in the counsel...
When Can We "Let Down" In Life? March 8, 1964
Sometimes after long effort, long work, we may ask ourselves when can we relax? When can we let down in life? There must be some diversions. We cannot drive ourselves all the time, nor be on tension...
A Look at Pleasure and Leisure March 15, 1964
As to pleasure and leisure and their place and importance: While there is need for leisure and relaxing, it is not good to have too many unoccupied hours; for there is too much too little time to do...
The High Privilege of Parents… March 22, 1964
With all the influences there are outside the home, among the most important questions we should consider is the teaching of children within the home⎯not necessarily technical teaching, but...
No One Leaves Himself Behind April 5, 1964
“Who can predict the quality of life… in heaven in the great hereafter?” asked one worried observer. “Does it not depend on the quality of his present life? Are we not today...
The Need for Standards April 12, 1964
We are in some measure acted upon by others and by outside influences, but also, in large measure, we are shaping ourselves. And in all our choosing and selecting and deciding, there is need for...
Broadmindedness April 19, 1964
“Broadmindedness” is a word that has much meaning and much to commend it. But “The question is . . .” said Lewis Carroll, “The question is whether you make words mean...