No Birds in Last Year's Nest April 23, 1967
These lines from Longfellow suggest some self-searching: “For Time will teach thee soon the truth, There are no birds in last year’s nest!” Often we regret and brood about past...
The Quality of Courage… April 30, 1967
“Whatever you do,” said Emerson, “you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising, which...
Manners From Models… May 7, 1967
In commenting on the character, the courtesy of young people, of all people – or the lack of it – Frederick Stamm asked: “Are the young to blame for their discourteous actions …? There are...
Some Very Simple Things… May 14, 1967
We often hear complex explanations for very simple things, and often fail to find the real essence of what it is that makes men, of what it is that matters most. And often it seems we start at the...
Reserve Resources May 28, 1967
Commencement: What Next? June 4, 1967
“You have received certain talents, some ten, some five, some one . . .” Dr. Karl T. Compton said to a class at Commencement. “Whether you wish it or not. . . the world will hold...
Marriage…and Maturity June 11, 1967
“Marriage if for adults only,”1 wrote one eminent author⎯not necessarily maturity of years, but maturity of attitude⎯the maturity to know that there aren’t any perfect people, that...
The Importance of Every Person… June 18, 1967
“The deepest urge in human nature,” said John Dewey, “is the desire to be important,”1 to be needed, to be appreciated as a person, to have a place, to perform a part. And...
The Courage of Quiet Consistency June 25, 1967
Always it seems there is an expectancy that someone will rush in and do something dramatic to solve our problems, with some spectacular solution. But often what is needed is the undramatic, and...
Loyalty… and Character and Conduct July 2, 1967
Loyalty, like love, is not just a sentiment, and not simply what someone says, but something that is proved by performance, by character and conduct loyalty to principle, to family, to country;...
Between Parents and Children… July 16, 1967
Too often there is too much distance between people who should keep closer⎯a distance that separates those who live in the same place. It happens too often between parents and children, who...
Find a Way, or Make One July 23, 1967
“A hundred times every day,” said Albert Einstein, “I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself to...
Rearview Living July 30, 1967
As if With Stiff Bristles… August 6, 1967
“How often do we see men and women set themselves about as if with stiff bristles,” said Samuel Smiles, “so that one dare scarcely approach them without fear of being pricked! For...
Petty Complaints… August 13, 1967
“Though sometimes small evils, like invisible insects, inflict great pains,” said Richard Sharp, “and a single hair may stop a vast machine, yet the chief secret of comfort lies in...
Character Is What You Are in the Dark August 20, 1967
From Dwight L. Moody we turn to a short, challenging sentence: “Character is what you are in the dark.” Every man is two things at least — what others see and what he is inside. Both are...
Running From--Not To August 27, 1967
A sentence heard somewhere quotes a restless young person as saying: “I am running from, not to.” Many it seems are running from, who don’t really seem to know what they are...
For I Have Done Good Work September 3, 1967
Sometimes we suppose that other people’s work is easier than ours. We may sometimes suppose that some occupations, some assignments are always glamorous and exciting. But of this we may be...
Up Days and Down Days… September 10, 1967
The moods of people, encouragement and discouragement, the ups and downs are all cause for concern. All of us have high and low points in life, and knowing this we should not become too discouraged...
O the Kind Words We Give… September 17, 1967
The words of an old song suggest a subject: “Let us oft speak kind words to each other. At home or wher-e’er we may be…” Negatively, it suggests another subject: the opposite of...