THE WORLD CALLS LOR LEADERS!

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18936, 5 December 1929, Page 13

THE WORLD CALLS LOR LEADERS!

Get Out Of The Rut To Obtain True Content.

(Written for the “ Star ” by

FREDERICK A. BARROW.)

It is immeasurably easier to get into a rut than it is to get out of one. It requires less effort to travel the tracks we ourselves have grooved, or which have been made for us by others, than to put on a little extra power, add a little initiative, suffer a jolt or two, and get a grip on new ground. To follow is easier than to lead; and self-discontent causes unwelcome pangs of conscience. Too much self-satisfac-tion is an affliction readily embraced. The cry of “let us alone: we’re quite comfortable as we are.” is the cry of mediocrity, and the principle, or lack of principle, which it implies leads ultimately to failure. Between two given points a straight line is the shortest distance: but in going from one point to the other men are prone to follow the easier path, even though it leads them a mile or two out of the way. They prefer to travel the old ruts rather than make new and straighter paths. Excessive self-satisfaction has been the ruination of many a character. Content to leave things as they are, never helped to make things what they should be, either for the individual or for the world at l^rge. Dissatisfaction Makes For Progross. Dissatisfaction has been one of the most powerful factors in promoting the world’s progress and the progress of the individual. It has been a bigger, factor, indeed, than necessity. China has been an exemplification of this. There has long been a necessity there lor good highways, railroads, modern methods of agriculture, modern methods of manufacture, modern methods of government. Mark you, the necessity was there, but' the potent factor of dissatisfaction had not been developed to that point where it could bring its force to bear for the good and welfare of the yellow race; the Chinese were desirous of being let alone to tread in the old, old rut. Now they are struggling to get out of that rut, and they are finding it a hard struggle for the rut was worn very deep. There is only one true content, and that is the content which arises from the knowledge that one is doing his level best to get out of the rut of the commonplace. It is no crime to be poor, it is no crime to be ignorant; but to be willing to remain in ignorance or poverty., that is most reprehensible, especially in these days when opportunity lies to our very hand and we can better our condition if we will and if we will hard enough. To be satisfied with small accomplishments may not be a sign of degeneracy, but it certainly is not a sign of virile manhood. It is a sign of the rut-roller. Galileo refused to follow in the rut of the ancient astronomers and astrologers. Columbus refused to remain in the rut of superstition regarding the ogres and devils dwelling in the unexplored Atlantic; the English knights at. Runnymede refused to remain pressed down in the rut of tyranny and extortion; Luther, Darwin, Newton, the Wright brothers, all struck out from the rut of the accepted and marched on new ground, forward leaders in world advancement. They refused to follow in the groove of the commonplace, and became pioneers of new paths of exploration. The world is filled with self-complac-ent, self-satisfied mediocrities who are content to jog along in the rut of circumstance; but it also has leaders, who, like leaven, can permeate the mass of human dough and make it rise to a more wholesome condition. World Need For Leaders. The world needs more leaders. If you are a fighting man, you may attain to the distinction of leadership if you arc willing to put forth thought

and energy enough to get yourself out of the rut of indifference. Leadership! Does the thought ap-, peal to you? Isn’t it an ambition worth following, the desire to become a leader of your fellow men or a leader amongst them? To be a leader in advanced thought, to be a leader in advanced business methods, to be a leader in those advanced politics which embrace “ the righteousness which exalteth a nation,” to be a leader in your art, in your science, in 3’our calling or profession, is it not for you “ a consummation devoutly to be wished ” ? Get out of the rut. Don’t be content to run in a groove. Strive to be a leader instead of resting content to be a follower. Of course, not all of us can be leaders; but we all may aspire to leadership. And by that very aspiration are we lifted out of the rut of the commonplace. But this, too. you must learn if you would become a leader of men in any calling or profession, in any movement, political, religious or commercial—you must learn to be human, to have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to understand and sympathise with your fellow men. Without this humanness you will make little progress in leadership. Think over the long roll of names in our own county's list of truly great men, and you will see that the quality of human understanding was one of their chief characteristics. The most truly great man is the most approachable. False pride has no place in the character of the leader. Rewards Worth the Cost. Then this, also, you must consider, and consider most seriously; Not you but the thing for which you stand is the matter of most consequence. The leader must sink himself in the high motive which inspires him. The more thoroughly you can do this the more whole-heartedly you make yourself the servant of your Great Desire, bringing all the fine traits of character we have mentioned under the dominance of that great desire, the bigger and better leader you will become. The rewards of successftil leadership are well worth the cost; and we would not call pecuniary gain one of the principle rewards, although it frequently is a concomitant of leadership. Successful leadership brings with it a mental and spiritual exaltation which gives a higher reward than could be measured in shillings and pence; and the thrill of being in the midst of the toil of life enlarges a man’s soul. Then, too, there is the reward of human love and loyalty which the leader receives from his followers, one of the greatest rewards a man can aspire to. “ Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition,” was a warning given by one whose principle ambition had been selfaggrandisement. And ambition of such a kind is not worthy of emulation. Wolsey’s ambition was for himself, not for others; he strove for himself, not for a good cause. And he fell, like Lucifer, “ never to rise again.” No man should be without an ambition, no man should be willing to stay in the rut, no man should rest content with what he has done. The world calls for leaders. Be one! (Anglo-American N.S. Copyright.)