| The Secrets of a Beautiful Life |
Chapter 15 |
Page 5 |
So in smaller measure it is with thousands of human lives. They fail. They sink down in the dust and are forgotten. Their names are lost in the indistinguishable multitude. No fame, no remembrance, is theirs. But without them the world would have missed a portion of its blessing, and other lives, honoured now, would have missed their honour. Many a child is living today in bright happiness, prosperous, successful, enjoying distinction, because his parents toiled, sacrificed, and — failed. none of us know what we owe to the past, to those who have gone before us, to the lives that sank down in unmarked obscurity. They laboured, and we are entered into their labours.
It is doubtful if any good man can make the most possible of his life in a worldly pursuit and yet be a loyal Christian. He may have brilliant powers, all the qualities that lead to success. If he were to devote all his energies without reserve to his chosen business, he could outstrip all his competitors and win the highest place. But he is a Christian, and a Christian cannot live for this world’s ambition alone, though he do it honestly and honourable, and though the ambition be altogether worthy and he be altogether faithful to his Master. He must serve his fellow-men as he passes through life. He must be as Christ to the wary and stumbling ones. He must turn aside ofttimes, like the Good Samaritan in his journey, to help those who are in need, whose cries break upon his ear. He may not press on in his ambition heedless of love’s duties.
Then while he thus stays his feet to do service to those who need sympathy and help, his competitors in the race, not troubling themselves to heed the calls of distress about them, thinking only of winning the goal, gain upon him and pass him by. Men say he is foolish thus to permit himself to fail through his heart’s tenderness and sympathy. But that is not failure which comes through pausing to comfort and bless others. Rather it is such ministries as these that alone redeem an earthly life from utter failure. The man who steels his heart against all appeals for pity and help, and goes remorselessly on to the goal of his ambition, without turning aside at the calls of need, finds no blessings in that which he achieves. But he who seeks first the kingdom of God, stopping in his busiest days to do good, and turning aside from his most ardent pursuits to minister to human want or sorrow, though his hands hold less of this world at the end, will be rich in the rewards of love’s service.
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