SELECTIONS FOR THE FAMILY CIRCLE
“THE INELEGANCE
OF HURRY”
There is an idea
prevalent that to be in a hurry is a sign of importance, of large business and
large achievements. It is a serious mistake. An experienced person always mistrusts
the man who hurries, for he fails in emergencies. Serenity of mind and
leisurely action are necessary to fine work of any kind. It is in leisure that
the mind assimilates best.
Scipio Africanus declared, “I am never less at leisure than when at leisure.” A
rare bit of wisdom of which all reflective minds know the value. If we admit
this as true, the inelegance of a hurried manner has the best of reasons. It is
wasteful, inconsistent with the finest action, and is caused by a man losing
control of himself, and suggests an uneasy, indecisive mind.
A distinction, however, should be recognized between activity and excited
hurry, and between slowness and self-possession. Activity with self-possession
is the desirable condition.
TROUBLES MADE BEAUTIFUL
Most of the shells of the oyster are pearly in the interior; and as the
true pearls are merely morbid growths, they may all produce pearls of various
qualities. The formation of pearls is caused by the introduction of irritating
substances, such as grains of sand, between the mantle and the shell. The
irritation causes the animal to cover the obnoxious object with layers of
pearl, which generally attach the foreign body to the interior of the shell.
The Chinese produce pearls artificially by placing substances in the position
just described; and we have seen some shells to the interior of which small
metal images were attached by this pearly secretion. [See Vol. VII. comments on
Rev. 21:21.]
When we look at a pearl, we look at an annoyance which has been ennobled. The
oyster by itself is of merely nominal value. But the result of the oyster’s own
treatment of its irritation-the pearl-is something “of great price.” Apart from
its pecuniary worth this gem has a moral significance. It suggests that
troubles may be made beautiful, and reminds us that amongst mankind some
martyrs are more remembered for the glory with which they invested their
sorrows than for any other portion of their lives. Biography has its moral
pearls, which are treasured long after the creators of them have perished, just
as material pearls are valued long years after the oysters have been discarded.
GOD CHOOSETH
There are men who have strong and laudable desires to serve the Lord, and
who fervently pray for his glory; but he does not always seem to hear their
prayers. There are various reasons for this. Sometimes men are unfit for the
Lord’s service. They are not purged from their sins; they are not vessels unto
honor, fitted for the Master’s use; and so he sets them aside as not
adapted to his work. Sometimes men wish to do great things, but find themselves
straitened, hindered, limited and circumscribed, sometimes they are reserved
for still greater work; in other cases they are rejected of the Lord for
reasons well known to him.
Moses longed to lead Israel into Canaan, but he was not permitted to enter the
promised land. So David would gladly have built the Temple at Jerusalem, but
the Lord would not accept that service at his hands. Paul was forbidden by the
holy Spirit to preach the gospel in Asia, and though he essayed to go into
Bithynia, the Spirit suffered him not. In like manner we
may have desires and aspirations for usefulness which will never be gratified.
The Lord may see that we could not bear the exaltation and the honor which we seek.
He knows far better than we do what is for our good, and so he would have us
rest contented in his providence, not idle, but diligent; not careless, but
watchful; not indifferent, but full of intense, earnest longing to do the will
of God; yet patient under restraint, and content to be neglected and forgotten,
remembering that “they also serve who only stand and wait,” and that the Lord
in his own well-chosen hour can lead us forth to fulfill his purposes of grace.