DID YOU READ OUR LAST

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2031, 18 August 1920, Page 8

DID YOU READ OUR LAST

WELFARE THOUGHTS FROM THE WELFARE LEAGUE? THE POWER OF PATIENCE. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.) Impatience, I believe, has ruined more human projects, blasted more hopes, delayed more results than any other one element of human characteristics. Emerson says: "Adopt the pace of Nature; her secret is patience." But the average human of to-day wants to do everything in a hurry—wants to reach a goal by a short-cut road. Folks fail sometimes for want of strength, you say—forgetting that strength, endurance, born of patience, is the result of the power to hold on, to hold fast. "I work with patience, which is almost power," said Mrs Browning. And I warrant that if you look about you at the men and Avomen of your acquaintance who have made a success, who have arrived, and will analyse their qualities and their methods, you will find that patience is a -dominant characteristic. "Patience," it has been said, "is the art of hoping," but patience is much more than hope. Patience is courage, endurance, fortitude, determination, and these are the qualities that win. But remember that patience is not complacence—patience is not indifference or smugness. There is nothing week-kneed, or spineless about the truly patient human, who seemingly stands by passively, when most folks are kicking and howling. . Patience develops that poise of mind, the judgment that lets you know when it is best to remain silent and inactive, gives you the vision to know when to act and the power to make your action bring the right result.

Some people are a long time dying —try living. Remember! "A man should keen his friendships in constant repair' ; also, what Mark Twain said: "Travel is fatal to prejudice." The Golden Rule: The best game on earth is played by the (iohlen Rule. To play it right you must always remember: You move hist. Think how it starts, "Do unto others" —see, you move first. The fault-Under will never build a hen coop, but he will be on the job with both feet when you want to tear down the barn. Barn builders and barn burners have nothing in common. Every man is in competition with himself. He must break his own record. He must get ahead of himself and not get into his head the „ idea that he must get ahead of others. The man who will co-operate with others gets to leading. Do not Id your soul sloop. What is Heaven for if it is not to look up to? There is but one way to look when you want to get ahead and the way is ahead. Looking hack, looking down, and you stay back and slay down.