HOW SHALL I SPEND VACATION?
By O. E. Cummings
As vacation approaches, the question arises in the minds of teachers and students, How shall I spend my vacation? When considering this question, let each earnestly inquire, “How can I best spend that period of time?” In what way can I be of most service to God and to my fellow-men? The capital of most teachers and students consists of time rather than money, and it is as sinful to squander time as it is to squander money. As strict an account must be given of our moments as of our means. All our people should plan to spend their time to the honor of the Lord, and the furthering of the third angel’s message in the earth. Those who go home, and spend their entire vacation visiting relatives and friends and having a so-called “good time,” are never so well fitted and prepared to take up school work as those who find their highest enjoyment in enlightening others by carrying the printed page from house to house. No line of missionary work presents more opportunities for doing good than does that of canvassing. Just as much as we seek to help others are we blessed ourselves. Many workers think God has called them to the work merely to enlighten others, forgetting that the Lord is by this means training and developing his servants for greater responsibilities and broader fields of usefulness. One of the most important lessons to be learned is that of dependence upon God, and nowhere will this lesson be so quickly learned as in the canvassing field. The canvasser has no human friend to whom he can take his troubles and difficulties, and this drives him nearer the Lord. The promise, “Lo, I am with you alway,” becomes precious to him. He remembers the Lord has said, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” At the general meeting of conference presidents and leading brethren held in Battle Creek, Mich., last October, it was recommended “that our colleges13and academies everywhere, being beneficiaries of the gift and labor of Sister White, of our conferences, and lay members, do put forth their utmost efforts to secure and train a large corps of canvassers to sell the book ‘Christ’s Object Lessons;’ these canvassers to go out from the schools as soon as they have sufficient training to do the work; and we further recommend that the presidents, professors, and teachers of our schools, during their summer vacation, canvass with the students for this book.” Substantially, the same recommendation was passed by the last General Conference. Our conferences and lay members have done nobly in selling this book, yet very much remains to be done, and now during vacation is the opportunity for the presidents, professors, teachers, and students to take hold of this work, and as they engage in it, heart and soul, our whole people will be inspired and encouraged to redouble their efforts another season. May the Lord move upon the heart of everyone to engage in this work. O. E. CUMMINGS,
General Agent, District, N. W. U. C.