A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1928, Page 1

A DAILY MESSAGE

there is nothing common

W fiK.x we know little, we condemn inui'li; when we know much, we condemn little; when we know all, we condemn not at all. When we understand little, we see much that is common in liife; when wo understand much, we know that there is nothing common, hut that there is ■Hitch that is unique in what is called "common.” It is a difference in ” seeing.” Look at that man on the dray that is passing. To those who look hut do not see he is but a grimy, unskilled labourer—a " common ” man. Rut to those who i look and do sec the “seers”—he is unique. To them he is an imeommon man occupying a niche in life which only he can fill. He is a magnetic centre of a sphere of influence which cannot he radiated l>,v any other man.

That man has an influence in hi.-, work, in his home, in his union, in hR Church, in his lodge, in liis street, in his town—an influence which no othei human being can exercise; it is his. How can he he common r Look at him ! See how he handles those horses, going up that steep hill. He d oes not whip and curse; lie sits forward to lighten his weight, finds the easiest grade in the road, speaks to liihorsos, in a low encouraging tone, and when they reach the top of the hiii says to them, “ Well done ! ” and they know, those horses. You see, he lias an influence upon them. He is kind. That man is married : lie has foiti children; and as husband to that wife, father to those children, bread-winner to that home, he hears a unique relationship to those live persons. No mu else in the world could discharge that man’s obligation to that relationship. He is not a common man ; lie is unique : he is a man with an influence, and that influence is liis alone.

That man has also his own peculiar relationship with Ids employer. Something exists between them, intangible and yet so real, horn of the interaction of their personalities, which can nevei exist between any other two persons in that business, or, for the matter of that, between any other two person-, in the world.

• He stamps his own individuality upon his work, too. lie exercises his own influence upon all whom he meets. Even his influence upon his horse is individual. Nobody else will handle them in exactly t-lie same manner, nor get exactly the same response I rum them. He is not a “common “ man; he is a man with an iniluence. There is nobody in the world who could exactly lill his place. And the same is true of you. me/ and every other person in this world. )on are the only person who can do your worn. Oh. yes, the world will go on after you are dead, but it will lie just the* much poorer il you fail in the work assigned to you. Aon are not a common oersmi. You have an influence. Choose well what kind of influence yours will lie; for your inllueiice does not end with this lilo. hut the tilings and forces you set in motion influence other tilings and R’rees which will continue to be centres ot lurther iiitlneme right down the corridors ol l ime.